Tales from a self taught knitter

it has been a whole year...

2011-01-01T10:16:00.000-05:00

i have missed blogging. so i am back...a new blog. come and visit!

2009-12-31T23:59:00.012-05:00

The end of the year...

Well here is the thing, I have decided to stop my blog.

Back in June, I began feeling like blogging was becoming a bit of a chore. I had never felt that way about it before but life is always changing and evolving and what worked 6 months ago or a year ago, sometimes doesn't fit into the mix as easily or as enjoyable as it once did.

I decided to give myself till the end of the year to be sure I wanted to stop blogging. (Plus I was determined to finish my photo a day project.)

As the end of the year came closer I found myself relieved by my decision to stop doing my blog and was looking forward to closing this chapter of my life.

There are so may creative people I have been fortunate enough to follow through out the time I have blogged. I have been given inspiration for projects. I have stumbled across great patterns and been lucky enough to win the odd contest.

I would not feel comfortable just not blogging anymore. There have been blogs I have followed where the owner stops blogging and you can't help but wonder what the heck happened. So I wanted to post that I was stopping and why. I want to thank everyone who has followed me here and commented. It has been a treat for sure.

I plan on printing all my posts out as well as my photo a day project and making them into a little book, so one day maybe my grand kids will stumble across it and get a glimpse into my life and their moms lives.

Be well and happy.

All the best in 2010!

xo Alisha

2009-12-30T23:47:00.002-05:00

Fifteen...

Fifteen years ago our middle daughter was born.

When we were expecting her we were stumped on a name. About a week before we had her hubby came home with a page from the Toronto Sun. The adult entertainment section. He said I found a girl name. In black and white there on the page appearing one night only....Porscha Leigh. I hate to admit it but it was perfect.

She was due actually Christmas Day. That was the only year I had all my Christmas stuff done by December 1st. There was no way in heck I was going any were near a mall that pregnant, anywhere near Christmas. She was late. Not so anxious to see the world I guess.

On the 29th I went for a check up. The doctor told me to come back later that night and she would help things along or we could wait it out over New Years and see what happened. We went down but not till 10pm. I was having second thoughts about the whole labor thing.

On the way down to the hospital at 9 pm, (I told you I was re-thinking the whole thing....when we got there the doctor said to me: Oh we thought you were not coming...we thought you chickened out) we stopped at the drug store. Hubby had promised me chocolates. I had wanted the tin they came in that year. When I had saw it a few weeks prior and hinted I wanted it, he said jokingly.......give me a baby and you get the chocolates. I held him to his word....this was about chocolate....a whole tin of them. I still have the tin, 15 years later. I use it to hold my journal and a few special odds and ends.

Later after all the hard work was done, her and I were getting to know each other. It was around 3 am, I was sitting and admiring her. She had this great little freckle on her tush. I was eating some of those chocolates. They were the best chocolates I had ever had, even to this day. I remember being so content. Fifteen years later I am content still. Happy to see the product of our efforts. It is both rewarding and amazing.

You know I hear people complain about their teenagers. I even have felt a little uneasy when listening to teenager horror stories. I won't lie and say there have not been times when I have wondered what the heck is up...why is she not like that with us.

Shouldn't she not want to hang out with us by now....avoid us like the plague?

Shouldn't she not want anything to do with my tickling her feet while we watch t.v. ?

Shouldn't she be moody and mouthy and darn right unmanageable?

Shouldn't she think the world revolves around her?

She is none of this.

Now this is not to say there isn't a storm brewing around the bend. Whose knows....she could give us a run for our money one day but right now she is fun to be with. She is good to her sisters. Her younger sister makes her a little more crazy then she use to. She doesn't like to be remind of the times she would lay with her on her chest watching her favorite t.v. show.

She'd lead you to believe she finds her to be the ultimate annoyance and I am sure some days she is but I see how she is. I see how she can be the most gentle and understanding big sister. She is good to her older sister too. Now I know that her older sister will tell you she is a pest and a dork but deep down she'd miss her sister's craziness. Porscha brings so much humor to our family.

She is a charming young woman. I don't feel sad about the years behind us. I don't feel sad she is grown up. I am looking forward to seeing her life play out. Where her heart takes her. Where her talents take her. And along the way I hope she never tires of my tickling her feet.

Happy Birthday Porscha

I was chuckling to myself....look here and here and here. I have basically repeated the same thing each year. That is sort of neat that my thoughts are in the same place.

Oh and there was a banner. Of course. I calculated last night as I was lying in bed, that I have made 33 banners.

She was quite pleased. She had just one thing that she felt needed to be changed. And in fact at first I had used ass but changed my mind. Moved that photo to cover what I had put and redid it.

She was so funny. She said to me, it is great but it should say (she spelt it) a-s-s. So I told her how it had but that I changed it. I told her she could change it if she wanted. She was all giddy about being able to. It was funny.

Ice cream cake...always. It was cute.

She has had a pretty great day!!!

2009-12-24T15:23:00.002-05:00

T'was the night before Christmas...

Knitted socks done.

Check!

Goodies for celebrations tonight.

Check!

There is still some wrapping to do.

But that is okay. Life is good!

Happy Christmas everyone. Enjoy the day!

2009-12-18T18:57:00.005-05:00

Last minute...

Today was the last day of school. I am very happy to now be able to have a few days were I can ignore the alarm and wake up a little later. We all were needing that.

At the beginning of the week I was debating what to make my youngest daughter's teacher. I had left it all to the last minute. I had thought about a pair of those mitts. Then I read this post. I had the pattern from a while ago and had been meaning to try it.....finding out it took only a hour and a half to make, made up my mind up, to not wait another minute before casting it on.

Super quick and the yarn was soft and perfect.

I wanted to keep it for myself!

We added a bag of cookies. Perfect gift and done super quick.

I will defiantly be doing a few more of these and no doubt next Christmas they will end up getting me out of a few gift binds last minute!

2009-12-14T09:06:00.014-05:00

Bella and crack...

Over the weekend I finished up the second pair of pink Bella Mitts my neighbor asked me to make her. A while back I did her some for her daughters. She loved them so much and had ask me to make her sister and daughter a pair for Christmas. I like them in pink.

I am very proud of how darn quick I am getting with knitting. These two pairs took me 14 days to finish. For me, I'd say that is quick. They were worked on while on the bus or driving (not me driving...I don't do that), during hockey, soccer and basketball games/practices, as well while watching off and on, after kids are in bed, the first season of Californication....holy crap what a good show. Can't wait to see season two now! If you have not seen this show and are okay with....well...........sex.........then you must see it! Must must must!!

Do you see what is beside those Bella Mitts?

Christmas Crack.

I love me a productive weekend that includes finished knitting and crack!

And a real great highlight from this weekend, as if two pairs of finished Bella Mitts and crack was not enough...

My daughters team won gold metals in their first tournament. They won all five games. What a terrific way to start the season!!!

Oh and can I say that I love this time of year. I love Christmas music and will listen to it every chance I get. I have been trying out different c.d's form the library. The Elvis one is really good!

Have a good week!

2009-12-06T13:47:00.003-05:00

A meme...

I don't usually do these but I liked this one. I saw it over here.

What are your middle names?
Mine is Dale, his is Edward.

How long have you been together?
Since September 1986.

1986/87

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
A few weeks.

Who asked whom out?
I don't know...we just began hanging out. Just happened.

How old are each of you?
I’m 39 and he is 40.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
My sister.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
I can't say there is one thing that is hard. Life can be hard, relationships can be hard, raising a family can be hard. Somehow it all just sort of works out for us. We are very fortunate.

Did you go to the same school?
No. I met him through a friend in grade 11.

Are you from the same home town?
Yes.

Summer 1990

Who is smarter?
I am the better speller ;)

Who is the most sensitive?
I think he can be more sensitive then me and I think it is because I don't make time to be sensitive. My head is always racing ten steps ahead of were I am at and so maybe a good new years resolution would be working on being more sensitive.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
It does not happen often. We just go where ever. Because it is such a treat I think we both just are happy to be eating out without kids. Now we order in often and it usually is chicken wings. We both like going out but actually prefer curling up eating wings and watching our favorite shows. Usually they are taped and we catch up on weekends once kids are in bed.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Florida.

Who has the craziest exes?
I don't think either of us do. We were so young when we met and really didn't get into crazy ex type situations. His first girlfriend through, lives about 6 blocks from us.....I walk past her house everyday to take my daughter to school. She does not know me and I don't think she knows we live so close. It was one of her neighbors whose son is in my daughter class, somehow it came up that they had this crazy neighbor who wasn't talking to them because of something rather stupid. Turns out the crazy neighbor is her mother and she lives like 3 doors down from her mother. When they were telling me this story I asked what the daughters name was because I had seen this lady before coming out of this house a few years back and thought she looked like this ex-girlfriend....they went out for a good year and I have seen pictures of them in old slides from his parents. Sure enough it was her.....kinda creepy in a twilight zone kinda way. We get a chuckle out of it...by the sounds of it, it is a good thing for hubby she turned out to be an ex.

Who has the worst temper?
He rarely gets mad but I would say that he does.

Who does the cooking?
Mostly me but he can cook and I love it when he does!!!

Who is the neat-freak?
Me....not so much a neat freak but rather a anti-clutter freak. I don't care about dust bunnies under the bed or a layer of dust on my shelves but I can not function well with crap everywhere and he is a crap everywhere kinda guy.

Who is more stubborn?
Probably a tie.

Who hogs the bed?
We have a king bed. Lots of room. He works nights and so we only have to share on weekends. The eight year old in our life hogs the bed the most...usually at 3 am!

Who wakes up earlier?
When we wake up together it would be me.

Where was your first date?
He met me at the top of my street since I was sure my mom and dad would not let me go out with a boy that drove. In his '71 Chevelle.

He had a friend with him. We drop him off and picked up our mutual friend that introduced us. We went through the Burger King drive through. He thought our friend had money and she thought he had money and he would not take my money so I had to "loan" it to my friend so he could borrow it to pay for what we ordered. We then went driving around.

He dropped me off at home and my parents, sister and her boyfriend were all walking up to a local pizza place and my mom and dad invited us along. He was all worried because his jeans had rips/holes in them.

Who is more jealous?
Me.

How long did it take to get serious?
We were teenagers. Not long. We broke up after about 3 months and then got back together about 3 months later.

We dated for a year maybe and he bought me a promise ring. We got engaged after about 5 years together and married about a year or so after that.

I am estimating as I never kept track of dates. The promise ring was at Christmas time. He gave me this real cute Hersey kiss bear a few weeks before Christmas. I was so excited because the only way you could get those was by spending $200 at a local clothing store and I had been so wanting a leather jacket from there. So I figured that was what I was getting for Christmas. Christmas comes and he gives me a big box...from this store. Inside is a leather jacket but as I pull it out I realize it was my sisters jacket. In the pocket was my ring.

He proposed at Christmas time as well. His parents and my parents got together with us. He dressed up in a suit and got down on one knee in front of them to ask me.

February 9th, 1991

Who eats more?
Probably me.

Who does the laundry?
Me. The odd time he will throw in a load.

Who’s better with the computer?
Him.

Who drives when you are together?
He drives because I don't have a license....I have tried but just have not a lot of ambition to be responsible for a moving vehicle on the road. I get to knit a lot when we drive......much better on my nerves.

September 2009

2009-12-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Twenty four...

So I saw this last year.

So cute. I wanted to make it. I started it the beginning of November. I figured piece of cake and I also figured that I would be able to make a few extra for some special people in my life. What a nice thing to give a family to count down to Christmas.

Ya right.

I finished ours. That is it. A lot of work. It took me all month. I worked on only it when ever I had time.

It is a time consuming project. I am happy with the outcome. I did not like the numbers. The ones I have seen done up all had x's to mark numbers. I did not like the way mine came out. Hard to read. The one with x's is 21. I decided to just do lines. Turned out better for me. I was doing something wrong. Too far apart with the x's maybe...either way I like the lines better so it is all good.

I also did not like all the crochet ties and whatnot. So I put mine on twine with clothes pegs. Now this does make it quite long because you can't drape it over something with numbers running down the sides as shown in the pattern but I still prefer it longer.

I was feeling a little bummed about this earlier today. My house is super small. So having this rather long line of little hats and mitts and having to find it a home was proving challenging. It could not go anywhere in the living room or the chocolate will melt because the wood stove can get the room so warm.

I liked where it was in this picture but that is in and around heavy cat traffic and those little pom poms on the hats would be very tempting.

I decided to hang it in the kitchen window. At first I was cranky about that. Then I gave myself a good swift mental kick in the ass because:

1) be damn grateful you are talented enough to make this sort of thing.

2) do you really think your girls care where the hell you hang it? they will be excited to see it when they wake up and will be more excited for the chocolate treats inside.

and

3) be lucky you have a home where you can hang it!!!

Consider me humbled.

Let the countdown begin.

2009-11-30T09:13:00.007-05:00

Timber through the shutter...

In the eyes of one of her biggest fans.

2009-11-21T20:41:00.008-05:00

Timber...

On Friday afternoon our beloved Timber passed away.

You may recall her having some issues while we were away in September. She was fairing well after all that and was doing good. However, Thursday things went for a bit of a nose dive. By 3 am Friday she could not stand and was having seizures. We actually thought at that point it was maybe just a medication issue as the vet had lowered her dose just a few weeks prior.

We took her into the vet Friday morning. They gave her a good dose of Valium as soon as we got her there to calm her and stop her body from working so hard. The plan was to keep her over night and to get fluids into her and see how she came out of all that. Unfortunately a few hours after we left, her heart rate went right down and that was it. They did try to revive her but were unsuccessful.

Poor old girl.

Her blood test did show she was very anemic and had low platelets. Probably, the vet said, there was something else going on besides the epilepsy.

The house is a little too quite now.

I find comfort in the fact she was peaceful when she passed due to the Valium. Her last food was Christmas cookies that I gave her Thursday night when she was curled up on a blanket not feeling so good. She was eleven years old and never had any health issues. She was a rescue dog and she had a fantastic life with a lot of love.

She was by far, the best dog ever.

2009-11-02T10:00:00.003-05:00

Favorites...

Those Mitts.

I had a ball and a bit left from my sweater. Absolutely the perfect amount to make a pair of those mitts. Adore this pattern. A gift anyone would appreciate and love. These are heading to a friend who gets cold hands while at her computer. Hopefully she will love them as much as I do!

Rose Hill.

This is such a super easy knit. I am going to tuck this away and gift it probably at Christmas.

Remember when I felted one of my daughters Bella Mitts? Well I had told her I would make a new pair. I love this pattern. Honestly does not get boring. It is a rewarding knit.

So I finished them and then I saw this at Subliminalrabbit's blog. How could I not join in? It is a favorite pattern after all.

Here is my photo that I submitted at Flickr.

As if you needed another reason to knit this great pattern....but in case you do, well get to it and take a photo and join in on the fun!

The next little while will consist of this knitting.

A little bit of Christmas fun!

2009-10-31T20:31:00.019-04:00

Happy Halloween with the view through the shutter...

A fun night was had. Busy.

Lots of candy.

There was Tinker Bell. I made the costume. I did it so quick it was insane and it is funny how those costumes always come out the best.

Wings are from Wandering Cat Studio. Totally made the costume!!! She loved them!

Indian Jones.

A sailor moon type anime character.

Hope everyone enjoyed a fun night!

October's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a eight year old.

There wasn't much on the camera this month. I do love when she takes multiple pictures of stuff...looking for the perfect shot.

2009-10-22T23:59:00.004-04:00

Selfish...

You may recall I won some yarn from Wandering Cat Studio.

I finished the dream swatch scarf I had started with it. The yarn was so nice to work with. I think it looks so amazing.

As I was making this I was considering giving it away as a gift to someone but as I got further along, I kinda really began to fall for it. I did what a knitter sometimes has to do. I decided to be 100% selfish and keep it.

I have wore it a few times already. It is long enough you can wrap it around your neck a few times.....it is perfect!

Thanks again Valerie!

2009-10-12T23:14:00.004-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving...

To my fellow Canadian bloggers.

A pretty easy paced weekend here. Always too much great food. One thing that I made that I can not eat enough of....which is no doubt bad bad bad, is this pumpkin bread.

Now I can't recall where I saw this. Another blog I am assuming but I had copied it out a while ago and was wanting to make it. So glad I finally did! I will be doing this one again for sure.

We had an extra dinner guest this year.

Meet.....

Puff the bearded dragon.

I so do not do reptiles well. A friend needed to find it a home. I have decided he is cute in a creepy way.

He smiles at you and seems to really enjoy cuddling. The live crickets in the aquarium have me freaked a tad....not to mention the mealworms. Gross. I think I about barfed a bit in my mouth when they told me that the worms can become beetles if he doesn't eat them fast enough. Okay double gross. Puff eat the mealworms...now...fast...all of them...quick!

However.....I like the fact that the girls love animals. I love that they have taken Puff in and have completely been enjoying him. I love the fact that I can compose myself enough to tolerate something I would normally not and in fact kinda find a soft spot for him and get caught talking baby talk to him. I love the girls enjoy our zoo. One dog, three cats and a dragon.....sounds like a sitcom.

2009-10-09T10:45:00.001-04:00

Recycle...

A while back I read Bezzie's post about making bags out of old t-shirts. Well like many crafty folk I filled that sucker away in the part of my brain that is always thinking, always ready to create, always willing to pull forward ideas seen in the past when the times arises.

Well it was time. Her hockey jersey was too small. She has a replacement. Makes her daddy very proud that she loves to wear them.

What a face.

Came out rather well. I used the sleeves for the straps.

It has been put to use already. Great for taking to her sister's basketball games with a snack and few things to do!

Go have a look for a too small shirt and make a little something fun!!!

2009-10-03T18:20:00.001-04:00

Leaves...

So I finished the cropped cardigan with leaf ties. It was so worth the wait. A great pattern. Easy to do and it did not take me long at all. I haven't even blocked it yet. It went right on holidays and then I wore it to work the day these photos were taken.

The thing I love best and what made me want to knit this in the first place was the ties. Those little leaves. Perfect!

2009-10-01T22:11:00.004-04:00

A day late on the view through the shutter...

In the eyes of an eight year old.

She took photos the one day on holidays of all our feet as we waited to go into breakfast.

And of course a picture of herself...

We had a very nice holiday. The first 48 hours was a little stressful. Our dog began having seizures and we had to be in touch with the vet and my parents during that time hoping for the best for Timber. Seems to be that she has developed epilepsy. She had a rough few days but the medicine seems to be working. And boy were we glad to see her last night when we got home.

2009-09-23T13:00:00.004-04:00

We are off...

We are off to Disney.

We head to Buffalo today and fly out in the morning.

See you the end of next week. I promise to have a picture of that great sweater. That is all done and packed for those air conditioned restaurants that are making my meals for the next week! That is what I like best about going away....no cooking!

Have a great week!

2009-09-08T22:10:00.003-04:00

Seventeen...

My oldest daughter turned seventeen today. Hard to believe. It seems like just yesterday I posted about her 16th birthday. It seems like just yesterday she was born.

A few months back she caught wind that I had old journals in the attic and had shown an interest in reading them. As much as I would like to just let her go to it, there are some things that I prefer her not to read. Not now anyway. Journals are never usually all positive.

So anyway I decided to edit the ones I had. To take out the pieces about Shelby and allow her to see her first few years of life through my words as a new mom.

The following is a letter I put at the beginning of the entries and a sample entry. One that brought back emotion for me. Made me feel a lot of things that I felt way back then.

Dear Shelby,

You showed an interest in my old journals. I wish over the years I had been better at writing. I am sporadic at best.

It is hard to believe that today you turn 17. When I was seventeen dating your dad, I was never getting married and never having kids. I am not sure where that thinking came from. It might have had something to do with working in a children’s clothing store at the time. Maybe having seen my share of kids barfing in the ball room or shoving smarties up their noses got me thinking that way.

I can’t tell you when that thinking changed but it did.

Imagine what we would have missed out on had I not decided children barfing and snotty smarties were not so bad.

I love you sweetie. I hope you enjoy the pages ahead. Maybe they will inspire you in your writing. They might make you cry. I hope they give you a glimpse into my first little while as a brand new mom. An experience I will forever be grateful for.

xo Love Mom

September 6th,1993

Well on the 31st of August we saw Dr. Rosenbaum. He was very pleased with Shelby. He could not get over how happy she is. He pretty much told us that her only problem at this point is the high tone in her right side. He did diagnosed her with C.P. but he said with help (which we have lots with Stephanie, C.D.R.P etc.) that she will reach milestones just that it will take her a little longer.

Well we let everyone know what he had to say. I think it is important for everyone to know. Great Granny and Grandad seem unfazed with it. I think they are a lot stronger then I give them credit for. I guess I sometimes think they won’t handle this well because they are older.

When we went to see Dr. Rosenbaum I had hoped deep down inside things would be different but it was what I expected. I just don’t want Shelby to suffer in any way. I don’t want anyone to treat her different if her disabilities are visible. I wish I could take it for her. Life is hard enough sometimes. But as I write this I think of what happened at the doctor’s office. He pulled out his keys. Shelby had a rattle in her left hand. He took his keys and knocked them against her right hand. She lifted her right arm and hit the keys three or four times. I almost cried. She has never done that. She is so determined and so easy going. She’ll thrive because of these fantastic qualities.

She is lying in her crib. She is so peaceful. Every once and a while, her little lips make a sucking motion, she must be dreaming about nursing! She is perfect!! And I love her more each day. Just when I think I love her as much as is possible she smiles at me or spits baby foot out of her mouth as she attempts a raspberry. Then my heart gets bigger and I love her just that little bit more.

I know she is going to do well. I am silly to worry that things won’t work out. She is almost a year old. It’s smooth sailing!! She survived!!

Happy Birthday Shelby

2009-08-31T23:44:00.002-04:00

August's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of an eight year old.

I love this one. On timer as she did a handstand.

2009-08-23T18:36:00.002-04:00

All wrapped up...

There were two goals in knitting that I had for the summer.

First there was hubby's sweater. What a relief to get that done and out of the way. Next was my throw.

Well the throw is finished!!!

As I was casting off and my youngest called sleeping with it that night. This was literally two minutes after I tied off the last loose yarn...

And a few hours later...
The next morning...

I really could not get a good picture of the basket weave pattern. It is there and looks very nice in person. I know we all will be fighting over it when the dead of winter is upon us.

So with both of those out of the way and only my dream swatch scarf on the needles, I felt it was very save, to finally begin my sweater.

I can't wait to get this done. I plan on making a cute little white sundress to go with it for when we go on holidays in September. Perfect!

2009-08-17T20:12:00.001-04:00

Feeling the love...

So I mentioned about this yellow fabric here.

I picked up the pattern for a quarter the same place I got this yarn and fabric for a dollar.

The yellow fabric I stumbled across at Walmart for $4.00.

The pattern gave me a bit of a hard time. The waist was too small so I had to add a bit which meant not as many gathers. I was not feeling the love. I had even bought a white blouse in anticipation but it just was not the outcome I had hoped for. I thought it looked frumpy.

I was humming and hawing over it and had a thought.....

Add a belt.

I was beginning to feel a little something for this outfit.

On my way to work wearing my new outfit I came across a young lady. From down the street I thought she was selling lemonade. I had a dollar on me and had planned on buying some. I love when kids do lemonade stands, in fact I am so hoping to have my youngest do one very soon. As I got closer though, it was apparent this gal had bigger plans!

She was selling jewelery. Cute stuff. But I had only a dollar. I of course stopped to look, never imagining, my dollar would take me anywhere.

Well it did!

These were a dollar.

My outfit was complete.

Then I got so many compliments at work for my skirt. That was it I was hook, line and sinker. I was feeling the love.

I love when it all works out!

2009-08-06T00:00:00.010-04:00

Wait till winter...are you crazy...

So I told hubby I needed a photo of him in the sweater. We had some great backdrops happening. He was barbecuing and the mosquitoes were super bad but the blog must go on you know.

He asked why I could not just wait till winter, it was too hot to put it on. Winter?!? I told him that winter was just far too long to wait for sweater photos.

The result of course, of me making him put on a sweater in the middle of summer, was him not really giving me photos that I would prefer. You know those nice artsy ones where he is holding a coffee mug.

Nope. I got not one, but two birds. Kinda like when he did it here.

Bugger.

So you can see that one of the issues I have with this sweater, is that in my opinion, it is too big for him. When I began it two years ago he was measuriing for an extra large and although I don't really think his size has changed, I could have easily made a large.

Another issue I had was that when I was seaming up the back to front on one side I found that I guess when I did the back I had dropped a stitch at the side and it was starting to come apart....yes come apart!!! This was after I had seamed the raglan sleeves and did the collar. I honestly considered undoing it all to fix that stitch. I did not though. I did what any good redneck knitter would do. I sewed the fuck out of that stitch...sewed that sucker right into the seam and I pulled and I tugged and I washed it. I think it is good. Hasn't come apart. However it still is bothering that perfectionist side of me.

I did not like how big the sleeves are....part of the whole wrong size thing. Here is him smacking a mosquito on his leg, that shows how really baggy they are. The photo on the pattern shows them loose fitting for sure but not that loose.

I had added an inch and a bit to the sleeve length. Nothing worse then sleeves being too short. Well this made them too long....very long.

Lastly, I hated sewing in the zipper. It was a royal pain in the butt. I don't think I would do anything that requires a zipper again. It would have to be a pretty serious knock my socks off pattern to talk me into it.

He likes it and is happy with it. I know I might be borrowing it for sure. It isn't a waste at all but I defiantly learned a few things.

On the sewing front. This cute fabric...

Became these cute shorts.

She is so thin. She can wear a size 10 for length but has the waist of a size 6. Homemade shorts fit so much better.

Can you see the yellow fabric under the patterned fabric. Next time I will tell you all about it!

2009-08-01T00:38:00.004-04:00

Just hanging around...

I finished the sundresses. The striped one is for my daughter and the other is mine.

Awesome easy pattern and the fit is great. I would consider making the next one a little longer but other wise I love it.

For now they are just hanging around waiting for summer to show up!!!

2009-07-31T23:15:00.000-04:00

July's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of an eight year old.

(so many photos this month.....so there is a few extra...enjoy!)

2009-07-23T23:06:00.006-04:00

Done...

Finally after a very very very long time.

I finished hubby's sweater.

It is blocking as I type. I am proud of myself for such an accomplishment. I mean I taught myself how to knit only a few years ago and to be able to do something like this is really quite awesome. I am grateful for my ability to do this sort of stuff but the perfectionist in me has some issues with its outcome. I want to get a few pictures of him wearing it and I will share these issues with you when I share the photos.

With his sweater done and my throw getting a bit too heavy to drag around in my bag I felt no guilt in casting on a dream swatch scarf in this absolutely lovely yarn I won at Valerie's blog.

It is just lovely yarn. Thanks so much Valerie!

2009-07-13T07:25:00.002-04:00

My hands are full...

It the best way possible of course.

I did up another pair of lounge pants. I think they look a little too much like scrubs but either way they are comfy and great for around the house or garden.

In my left hand I hold.....are you sitting down? All the finished pieces of hubby's sweater. I had a little set back as mentioned in my last post. I had finished the last sleeve. So much ribbing....over 30 inches to be exact. I was reading the pattern, looking ahead to what was next and realized I had made the wrong sweater. I had made the higher collar one. ~insert hand smacking forehead here~

Although nice, it wasn't what he wanted. Now he said no worries he'd take it, probably because he figured holy heck I better or I may never get this sweater....you know after 2 years you can't be choosy...right?

Do you ever lay at night as your dozing off thinking about your projects? Well that night I was thinking about this blunder and decided that I would just frog down the front to were things begin to change for each version of the sweater. It was about 8 inches. The back section did not need to be changed.

I did it and got it corrected quickly. Another reason I did it was because I was worried I would not have enough to do the different version. It called for more yarn and although I had purchased an extra ball two years ago, I am on that last ball. I was thinking that I ran a great risk of running out if I did the other collar.

So I have begun the task of putting together and adding the collar. I need to find the perfect zipper. I told him he will have to let me take photos. He agreed. With luck by next week I will be sharing his sweater all finished.....finally!

Now in my right hand I hold some great fabric and a cute pattern for a sundress. I have had the itch to get back into sewing. I mean real heavy duty sewing...not just lounge pants and jammie bottoms. I use to make so many great things. I am excited about doing these.

Well I have my work cut out for me.

Have a fantastic week!

2009-07-06T21:10:00.012-04:00

A contest on Bench Monday...

If you have been following my photo a day project you may have noticed the odd Bench Monday shot.

I am certain that quite a few of the photos taken for Bench Monday on Flickr are done days prior with much preparation. I personally like the whole doing in on Monday with little or no plan. Like the photo a day.

I have been a little lax in the Bench Monday department lately because I have not had that perfect bench on Monday but had the most perfect opportunity today.

There is reading gardens at work. The one garden has the greatest quote on the wall.

"he who has a library and a garden wants for nothing"

How true this is.

My co-worker Amanda was wearing the cutest outfit today. What a sport she was to climb up on the garden wall and let me take her photo. I love that she appreciates my craziness and was more then happy to get involved.

Happy Bench Monday!

Valerie at Wander Cat Studio is having a contest. Go check it out.

There has been frogging going on. On that sweater. Can you believe it?! I will have to share another day. No time right now. Kids need to get in bed!

2009-07-02T06:50:00.001-04:00

Unfinished business...

So first off. Saw this recipe here.

Thought I would give it a try.

It was very good. I shared with my neighbor...she wants the recipe.

Onto unfinished business.

The were gonna be pedicure socks now have toes. I am so glad I decided to go the toe route. They are a great pair of socks. My middle daughter wears socks to bed every night. Even in the summer. She was checking these out. I told her they were mine. I mean it was my birthday yarn. And they do fit me perfectly.....

Psst.....I was bluffin' her. I think I will tuck them away for her for Christmas. She has two pairs I made her she wears all the time. She loves her socks and it makes me smile that she was trying to snag them with them just hot off the needles.

You'll recall the whole bella mitt auction thing.

Well I had began the replacement mitts with a different yarn. Was not happy with how they were turning out. They were too thin. But I did not want to waste what I had knitted. So I set it aside and came back to it the other week.

What I decided to do was make them fingerless bella mitts. The other thing I did was modfiy them for my oldest daughter. She has a tough time with mitts on her right hand. So I just deleted the whole thumb and made the right one like a wrist warmer.

She loved them and the right hand was easy to get into the mitt without thumbs. Perfect!

Okay so onto the real unfinished business.

Hubby's sweater, good heavens I started it 2 years ago, about time I get it done once and for all!

The throw I picked out for my birthday.

That is all I have on the needles right now.

That is what the next few weeks is going to consist of. My summer knitting is getting the unfinished finished!!!

Then I can finally start this.

It has been waiting patiently for me.

2009-06-30T23:04:00.008-04:00

June's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of an eight year old.

These next ones she took while doing one of those ankle skip things. I showed her how to use the feature on the camera where it takes three pictures a few seconds apart with having to only press the button once. She was having quite a bit of fun.

2009-06-25T23:12:00.002-04:00

School is out...

The older two finished and wrote exams last week and have been already enjoy the laziness that is summer. Primarily sleeping in and reading for hours on end. This series. They are vampire obsessed.

My youngest finished today. I am happy to know we have a break from that morning rush and the packing of lunches. I have to work this summer more then I ever have outside the home since having the girls and am a little stressed about that. I just have to stay on top of things. I can't do the lazy summer thing so much.

Anyway my youngest took in gifts for the teachers. I decided to make them aprons. You may recall when I did these before. (The little ones were from extra fabric and I was thinking of giving them to a friend who has three little girls, so I need one more, maybe with a cake mix and container of icing as a no reason present in the future....I have someone else I want to make an apron for so with the extra fabric from that one maybe I can do the third....on my list of to dos.)

Then I made these cookies in a jar.

We tried them first. The recipe was sort of crumbly. So I added an extra egg. That was what it needed. They were very good. I am glad I tried them out first.

I popped into the dollar store yesterday and wanted to get two plain bags. All the gift bags had crap on them. Well in a box marked two for a dollar, I found these plain white paper gift bags. I thought she could decorate them. Perfect!

I want to try to snag a few more of those bags. There was only the two but I am going to keep my eye out. I loved this idea. I impress myself sometimes ;)

2009-06-21T10:20:00.002-04:00

Fathers...

Where would we be without them?

There are so many reasons they are important. It is one of those things that as I have grown, I have come to realize, what a special role my father played in my life and the role my husband is playing in our girls lives.

My dad defiantly taught me how to laugh. That has given me the strength to get through many things. Thank you dad.

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there and the men that maybe are not dads but are making an impact in a persons life that they will remember always.

Cheers to you!

2009-06-12T23:03:00.006-04:00

Exhausted...

You'll recall the pedicure socks? Well I was going to stick with my original plan and make the pedicure socks. Until I had one all done. I don't like how they fit. See the orange arrow. The sock covers the baby toe. You are supposed to put a few stitches between the big toe and second toe but if you look close, you almost need a few more rows to make that happen comfortably.

I give that pedicure pattern a thumbs down and I will be adding a toe to the second sock and going back to the first and reworking it to add the toe.

There has been more bella.

These are the pairs for my neighbor's daughters. The ones that look blue are actually more purple. I know they will love them but I am reminded why I hate when someone asked me to knit or even sew stuff. I prefer making stuff and if I feel like giving it away then I will....or if I want to take a break I can. I don't do deadline stuff well. It takes away the fun of making stuff. I need to remember that magic word no.

Thankfully I really enjoy this pattern. Again they came out awesome. I need to make a pair to replace the felted ones now. Plus I know a gal who loves yellow and I really would love to see these in something bright. So there will be more bella mitts in my future.

I have been working on hubby's sweater a bit.

Life is just busy. Busy and exhausting. I was just nodding off as I type this....crazy. My posts are few and far between lately but I hope your following my photo a day.

I hope I find my energy soon! I think the fact that I am suffering from allergies is not helping. I am going to call the doctor Monday. Over the counter stuff is just not cutting it any more. I have been using aerius. It is 24 hour. It takes 2 or 3 hours to kick in and after about 10 hours wears off. Imagine having a cold 24/7....stuffy nose, dipping nose, running eyes.....even the other morning when I ran, they had just cut all the grass along the path, the smell was overwhelming (cut grass smell) and by the time I got home my throat was so sore and felt swollen. No wonder I am exhausted.

2009-06-02T23:42:00.012-04:00

Getting into trouble...

Some days I take on a few things at once. Surprisingly on those days I end up accomplishing the most. It is like a adrenaline surge.

This morning thanks to Amanda, my co-worker, who is reading my blog off and on and who said something about starting a blog and you can be sure when she does I will be sending you all over to say hi, gave me a ride to work. Which meant I had an extra 40 minutes to get into trouble.

Well first I started browsing blogs at 6:30 am before I woke children. Bad bad idea. Because I saw this post. It had been posted a mere 12 minutes prior.

I had lemon. I had poppy seeds. I had a craving after reading that post.

Then I had been wanting to make some chocolate chip cookies. They had been on my list for a few days.

Then there was the play doh I had been meaning to make for my youngest daughter.

There was even knitting happening while this was all going on. I do not have any knitting pictures and won't till next week.

But I do have new shoes. There is a wedding this weekend. Hubby's brother. It was a good excuse to buy new shoes!

Subliminalrabbit was sharing a few great pairs of shoes so I figure why not show off mine. Plus, size 11 feet are hard to make pretty....these make my feet look so so pretty!

My middle daughter had her sports banquet tonight.

She looked so pretty. She won an award. She won the coaches award for basketball.

Congrats Porscha!!!

2009-05-31T17:34:00.000-04:00

May's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of an eight year old.

2009-05-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

All a girl needs is...

A great hat.

Great mitts.

A good book. And speaking of books......two others that were good reads.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm......what is missing?

Oh yes......a treat.

Like this pumpkin bread. One of you had a picture of a loaf of pumpkin bread on your blog and now I can't find it. I thought it was Leslie but seems I was wrong.......so whoever shared that photo, it is because of you I made pumpkin bread ;)

So so good.

I might even wear the hat and mitts tonight to my daughters baseball. It is so cold today. Insane!

2009-05-21T09:21:00.016-04:00

Eight...

The shutter views are now through the eyes of an eight year old.

Not sure how that happened. Last thing I remember, her sisters were trying to send her off in the mail.

What a cute baby she was.

And a good baby.

I was unsure about the whole thirds thing. I mean two servings seemed to be going just fine.

Boy I am glad we went for thirds.

She is a free spirit. Spunky. A perfect way to complete our family.

She woke this morning to her banner. If your interested, the story behind the banners is here.

She is into everything fairy so we had to have fairies.

I packed a present in her backpack. A Webkinz cat. I wish I could have seen her face when she opened it at school. We'll be having cake tonight and a few more presents.

Tomorrow she is taking a few friends to the show.

Some great ways to celebrate eight!

Happy Birthday Amber!!!

2009-05-15T21:21:00.002-04:00

What I like...

You know what I like about browsing some of my favorite blogs?

I always find some great recipes.

The other week I found two that I had try.

Over at Bezzie's blog, her cookie of the week, involved this recipe.

These were very good. They are very cake like and actually I could foresee taking out the s'more ingredients and using the recipe to make a very sinfully delicious chocolate cake. Especially if it were topped with my brownie icing.

Brownie Icing: 2 cups icing sugar 1/3 cup cocoa 4 tbsp. butter water enough to mix it but not make it runny (approx. 5-8 tsp.) I usually add a bit mix and add a bit and mix till it is how I like it

I'd double the icing I think if I were going to do it for a cake. I will have to try this one time for sure.

Then I saw Leslie's cookie of the week. Oh my.

Had to try them. Had to have them for the kids after school. Peanut butter goodness times a million.

What a sweet week it was!

2009-05-12T08:27:00.007-04:00

Shhhhhhhhh...

Don't tell hubby's sweater.

I found a new pattern that I think may become an addiction, which means I won't be knitting that last sleeve as much as I should be.

Rose Hill Hat Pattern.

I saw it here originally.

Such a fun quick knit. Took me about 6 hours over 2 days. There is another one on the go as we speak.

Shhhhhhhh....don't breathe a word of this!

2009-05-10T10:30:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day...

A little photo from the past. I am the short one. (now I am taller then them both...he he) One year I gave my mom and sister this photo along side a similar photo of us when my sister and I were grown up. I wish I had the copy of that photo handy as well. I was lucky to find this one without issue. (like a whole closet of crap falling on top of me)

I think it takes being well into your adult life to truly appreciate your mom and the women that are like a mom to you.

Hubby's gran use to say she liked the everyday. How she didn't need a special day. I have to agree with her thinking. It is a nice sentiment to take time on a special day each year to say, "I love you" to your mom or women in your life that are like a mom but the bottom line is that we should appreciate our "moms" everyday. They are what makes the world go round.

Happy Mother's Day!
(today and everyday)

2009-05-04T21:45:00.002-04:00

All is right in the garden...

Last week I finished up the right matches for the lefty bella mitts.

I did write right on my little notebook where I keep track of rows because I am such that, even after making the mistake had I not wrote right, I would have probably done it again.

There will be more bella mitts in my future. My very near future. A purple and black request for my neighbors twin daughters birthday in July. They will be 25....I remember their 16th birthday like it was yesterday. Where does the time go?

Just have to remember after left comes....right!

I cast on for a pair of pedicure socks. I dunno though, the yarn is so nice it seems silly to not add the toe and they'd get used more. I thought they might make a cute gift with some pedicure supplies. I have a few more inches before I decide. To toe or not to toe.....that is the question.

2009-04-30T22:17:00.002-04:00

April's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

2009-04-27T09:02:00.003-04:00

Too many left turns...

You'll recall I did a pair of bella mitts for an online auction. Then the auction was canceled; then I gave them away; then the auction was back on. Well I began another pair of the mitts to replace the pair I gave away.

Almost had them done so I could send them off.

Realized I made two left ones.

This isn't so bad really. I am ahead with the next pair I have to do. You see someone loved these mitts but already owned the movie so they made a donation for me to make a pair for them. All in all the bella mitts generated I believe, $80 towards the pledge-a-thon/auction. (I am finishing up rights and will post some pictures another day.)

I can't say again how much I really love this pattern.

I read on subliminalrabbit's blog, that on Ralvery, her bella mitts have hit the 1000 pairs made. That is awesome and I am not surprised. They are a great knit. If you have yet to make them....get on it!

2009-04-25T08:23:00.005-04:00

Bee is for apron...

A cute apron. Made using the pattern in this book. I like how it turned out. I think another time I would adjust things a bit to lose some of the gathering. I thought it was a little too poofy but not horrible.

I gave this to my friend. She is such a wonderful lady and I wanted to give her something to say thank you for the times she really makes me feel understood. She gets my life and the challenges I face.

Got all crafty with the card. I had got this idea here. I don't think I will ever buy tags again. These are perfect for a gift and you can have so much fun being all creative about it. Something unique to dress up your parcel.

I am also in love with parcel paper and twine to wrap things. I love how it looks.

I want to get some more fabric. I think I am going to make aprons for the end of the year for the teachers/e.a's with this cookie in a jar mix. I think that is a perfect end of year gift. So fun! And easy too. That is what is a bit addicting about the whole apron thing. You can knock them off so super quick. It is a very rewarding sewing project.

Leslie posted about this recipe. Good heavens. Heaven.

You can see how quickly they were going.

This was maybe after they'd been cooling twenty minutes. I don't expect they will last long, which means I will have to slip on my apron and get another batch made!

Have a great weekend!

2009-04-18T18:27:00.005-04:00

Bella mini...

Remember the first pair I made for my daughter? She loved them; had wore them over and over.

Well we are really done with mitt weather here and they had been sitting on the chest in the girls room for a good week. Then all of a sudden one was missing. The lone Bella mitt sat there for another few days and every time I walked past I wondered where the heck the other one was. I even got down to check under the beds.

So yesterday I am doing laundry and pull out a load from the washer. As I was sorting out what had to hang I found the lost Bella mitt.

Felted.

I found it kinda funny. My daughter was a little sad. I promised her another pair. Thank goodness we don't need mitts for a while!

I plan on felting the other one, because felted and shrunk they fit my youngest daughter.

2009-04-14T19:24:00.001-04:00

Encore...

Before I get started I must must must say hi to my mom!! She is connected now and can read my blog. I noticed she commented below. So happy she can follow my creations.

Onto creating...

Do you remember those lounge pants? So awesome, made from sheets from the thrift store, dh was grossed out by it all, quite funny. Well I had an idea involving one of those shower curtains.

A pair of very soft and comfy lounge pants come out of it all.

I love these. I am all for lounge pants. Perfect!

This pattern is so great. I have used it so often. It is New Look 6160.

2009-04-11T18:16:00.008-04:00

A is for apron...

You'll recall my having my crafty way with a shower curtain the other week.

Well I had so much fun making those aprons I decided I needed to do it again. I got some fabric and did the same thing...traced an apron I use all the time that I got years ago at Ikea. For the small one I just trace a tank top but made it longer. My only complaint about the small one is I should have made it wider. She didn't care. She was ready to go.

Her sister was a little sleepy. Typical teenager.....comatose 99.9% of the time.

It was all worth coming into the kitchen to wear the apron and have me take photos.

Well there will be chocolate hid by the bunny tonight. They will eat too much of it tomorrow morning and we are having a nice turkey dinner. We all should be 99.9% comatose after all that fun!

Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Easter!

P.S. Speaking of having my crafty way with shower curtains....there was an encore. I will share it with you next time. Who knew shower curtains could be so fun!

2009-04-03T20:16:00.013-04:00

Bella once again...

I had not made these in a while. Then I saw them here and then here. Well that was it; we had to make a batch. They are so darn good.

Bella mitts. Well there was another pair made with a tale.

I made this pair originally for an online auction to raise some money for a family who lost there daughter to sudden onset juvenile diabetes. I had a copy of the movie Twilight to go with them. Well plans for the auction changed and they decided to do a 4-day pledge-a-thon.

Well I figured, okay I don't need the movie anymore, so I returned it. Then I thought of someone who would love the mitts, so I gave them away. Always feels so nice to give someone such a great treat.

I get an email that night. They decided to do the pledge-a-thon and auction off an item a day. Which is totally awesome!!!

Can you guess what movie I plan on going to buy? How about what I am knitting right now for the pledge/auction that begins tomorrow?

More bella mitts on the needles as we speak. Good thing I like the pattern!

2009-03-31T22:34:00.008-04:00

March's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

2009-03-29T17:43:00.004-04:00

Lordy lordy...

Today is hubby's 40th birthday. The girls had the idea to make a poster for out front on the tree. It was pouring rain this morning but I covered it in plastic.

When he left for my middle daughter's basketball practice he saw it. He is not the type for a big deal birthday so it was quite funny that we got him.

I had a copy of this photo for the poster. What a cute little boy he was. I love this photo of him.

I baked a cake. He likes my icing. Another copy of the photo for the cake.

Happy Birthday John!!! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful guy in our lives!

2009-03-26T18:58:00.007-04:00

Second act...

Before I get to my newest curtain creations, here is a fun thing I did.

I put a basket with crayons, coloring books and blank paper on the coffee table. I got the idea to do this the other week when my oldest daughter had friends over. They all were doodling in the living room and I thought how cozy, content and creative they looked and why not have a basket there all the time.

What a perfect thing. I keep finding the girls curled up coloring. In my opinion, you're really never too old to sit and color in a coloring book.....in fact, I think tonight I may pick a picture to do while watching t.v.

Now onto the second act.

Years ago I began wearing an apron in the kitchen. I can't work in the kitchen now without one. Over the last few years while I have been blogging I have seen many cute aprons done up and have always meant to have some fun and in fact last week I reserved two books at the library on sewing aprons. I thought they would give me some ideas. Once I get them, I plan on going and buying some great fabric and have some fun.

Last week I had a visit with a friend of mine and we got talking about aprons and she is the same way. Has to have an apron on in the kitchen. Well our apron discussion coupled with spring cleaning and looking through the bag with the shower curtains gave me a light bulb type idea.

Use my apron as a pattern and use one of the shower curtains.

It made two from one curtain. I even got creative and made little cards, like I saw here, to go with them. I gave one to my apron wearing friend and sent the other to my mom.

I made her come away from the cozy couch where she was coloring to model one of them. She was cold and tolerating me.....hence the folded arms. She was laughing, so there wasn't too much serious attitude....just a smidge.

Honestly these were so super easy to make and just what I needed to remind me how much I like sewing. I always seem to take on far too large for my life sewing projects....like jammie bottoms for all the kids in my life for Christmas. I had really lost my sewing mojo. I think a few more aprons and it will be back for good.

2009-03-24T13:00:00.006-04:00

Curtain call...

A while back a friend of mine gave me a bag full of fabric shower curtains....there is no plastic on them, they are just fabric. So I had kept a few and gave a few to my neighbor. I wasn't sure what I was going to use them for but I figured they might be fun to mess with. They are a good size. Here is an example:

The other week I had an idea.

My girls share a bedroom. Yep, all three in one very small room. Thankfully they really don't argue and they respect each others space and belongings. I like to think it is teaching them some good life lessons but you can be sure if I won the lottery tomorrow, one of the first things would be to give them all their very own room. Well the chances of me winning the lottery are quite slim...I mean you need to regularly remember to buy tickets and telling everyone your gonna win, when you do remember to buy one.....you know,that positive thinking and all....doesn't work. I have tried.

So in the meantime, till the whole lottery thing pans out, I am always thinking of ways to make their space special.

My youngest has the bottom bunk and loves to make it into a fort with extra blankets.

Well I decided to take a set of those shower curtains and make it extra special for her.

She loved them!!!

More crafty shower curtain fun to come!

2009-03-17T22:15:00.002-04:00

Think green...

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Being of Irish decent, I certainly could not let the day pass without celebrating somehow. That somehow took the form of shamrock sugar cookies with a bit of chocolate. No green. So you must think green while you sit and wish you had one of these to go with your tea...

I finished the pair of those mitts for my dad and have them ready to mail out.

I have another pair of Bella mitts on the needles right now. They are for an online auction for a special family. I should have my hand on two copies of the Twilight movie come Saturday.

I pre-ordered it through my local Blockbuster.

One copy will be waiting for me to get my youngest to bed so I can curl up with a bowl of popcorn Saturday night and watch it. After finishing all four books in the Twilight series, I am excited to finally see the movie.

The other copy of the movie will go with the Bella mitts for the auction. I should have them done by next week.

Then maybe I should do some more work on the death of me sweater.

Oh and I think spring is here....it was 15 today!!!! I don't want to say it too loud, you know just in case Mother Nature gets any silly ideas.

2009-03-14T17:59:00.005-04:00

Water cat...

We have been lucky enough to have had my mom and dad here for quite a good visit. They are heading home tonight. Home for them, is a good 14 hours away. It will probably be a while before we see them again.

I had decided kind of last minute to make them each a pair of those mitts. I got my moms done and she loved them.

I have about 2/3 of the second mitt to finish for my dad. He tried the finished one on and liked it. I should have them done by the end of the weekend and will have to send them out next week to him. It is cool up their way into the end of April so he'll be able to use them on those cool mornings for a few weeks still.

I have been enjoying my photo a day project so much. I just got caught up for the week. I took this photo Friday but the one I posted beat this one out even though this one is ever so cute. The toilet has been acting up. Getting caught and running so I took the top off the other day cause it was annoying me to have to keep lifting it to fix it. Our cat Cinder, is obsessed with running, dripping water. He has figured out that if he pushes the gray ball with his paw, water spurts out. It is so funny. He will sit there forever doing it over and over.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

2009-03-07T13:14:00.007-05:00

More Bella...

After finishing my first pair of Bella Mitts. I began another. They were gifted to my daughters friend for her birthday even before they were finished. She opened one. I was halfway through the second. She got them as a pair, finished, a few days later.

Trying to take a photo before they went to her....my dad screwing around.

I love these in the solid color. I have another blue pair on the needles. It is such a nice pattern.

If you have teen daughters playing basketball, you will know that the big thing seems to be messy hair buns. The bigger the better, they wear it all up with a million elastics and a piece of pre-wrap for a headband to hold stray hairs. My mom thinks they look so cute. She thought she'd try one for fun....wanted me to post the photo.

This is a tame version actually. One game I should snap some photos of the messy bun hair dos.

2009-02-28T13:00:00.001-05:00

February's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

2009-02-26T23:19:00.004-05:00

Glow in the dark...

I have been meaning to post about my shoes for a while now. I will admit that I wanted these ones when I saw them here.

Well hubby bought me these ones. It was sweet. He was so proud of himself.

They show off the knitted socks.

The thing is, I wasn't sure if I could live with that funky green tinge in the daylight.

However, after a few times of seeing them look like this in the dark...

Well hell ya I can live with it! How cool are these shoes? Very. They make me wanna dance in the dark.

I am knitting. Another pair of Bella mitts but no pictures of those today and yes I know there is that darn death of me sweater. I know I need to get on that. I seem to muster up enough energy to go a few rounds in the ring with it and then I sputter out of umph and end up knitting other stuff.

Soon it will get done...soon!!!! (at least that is what I tell myself as I cast on other projects while it sits staring at me from me knitting box)

We did do this cute idea.

It was messing.....actually very very, make me cringe, take a deep breath they are almost done messy. But they had fun and my middle daughter wants to try one. How long can I hold off buying glue for it do you think?

They are cute. Amber wanted to use hers like a nest. We hung it from the bunk bed bars. Very cute.

Can you you believe it is almost the end of February? I am not sure where the time is going, but all I know is it is bringing us closer to spring!

Have a great weekend!

2009-02-22T17:37:00.006-05:00

Teaching a friend...

A friend of mine whose daughter has played ball with my middle daughter for a few years is an avid runner. Well we had the idea to run while the girls are in practice. We extended an invite to all the other moms to come and run or walk with us. Today my other friend was there ready to go. I think warmer weather will bring out more moms.....today was cold, so there was just us three.

You know life always has to involve knitting, so I suggested we knit after we run/walk while practice finishes up. I offered to teach anyone who wants to learn.

Here is a shot of my friend doing a darn good job for her first row of knitting. She said it was a lost art. How true.

Sundays just may end up being one of my favorite days of the week!

2009-02-19T17:23:00.006-05:00

What muscles...

My youngest asked me to make these.

Muscle warmers she called them. I said to her for what muscles???

She saw Selena Gomez wearing something similar on Wizards of Waverly Place.

She wore them to school.....two days in a row. And yes those are red streaks in her hair.....she likes doing what the big sisters do.

I think I will have to make her another pair in a different color. What a hoot!

2009-02-16T15:57:00.002-05:00

Bella...

The other week I was browsing blogs and stumbled across this blog. Namely this post.

An absolutely beautiful pattern to follow for a pair of mitts that look very much like the mitts Bella Swan wears in the movie Twilight. I have yet to see the movie. I have a seven year old and that night my older two went to see it, I went to see Bolt......oh the sacrifices we make as parents. I can't wait to see it.

Here are the mitts from the move:

Here is the pair I made using the pattern by subliminalrabbit.

This pattern was super quick to knit up. Well written and defiantly one I plan on doing again very soon.

My daughter loves them!!! A big thank you to subliminalrabbit for such a great pattern!

2009-02-14T09:17:00.007-05:00

Cute ideas...

The other day I saw this on Leslie's blog.

Very cute, had to let Amber make one.

So many cute ideas over there! I am going to do this one today with Amber.

Have a great Valentines everyone!

2009-02-09T23:40:00.004-05:00

18 to life...

Hubby says he'd be out on good behavior.

It has been 18 years today we have been married. Last night we went out for a bite to eat alone.

We kind of just fit together perfect. Honestly through good and bad we manage through life's challenges stronger and more caring toward each other.

I can't imagine wandering down this road with anyone else.

I love him so much that I was okay with sharing this with him.

He makes me laugh everyday and makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. I really am very lucky!

2009-02-08T19:37:00.009-05:00

100 days...

So on Friday it was the 100th day of school. My youngest daughters class is having a celebration tomorrow because the teacher had a meeting Friday and did not want to miss it.

We made cookies to take in and share.

They can bring in a collection of 100.....littlest pets shops and plastic animals was her choice. If they bring in a collection they get a chance at a draw.

It should be a fun day. It is all she has talked about all week!

Now here is something that will make you chuckle and kinda made up for having to clean dog crap up in the yard today since so much of our snow has melted.

You know how you always seem to have those few socks that hang out in the bottom of the laundry basket waiting for their partner to return. Waiting each time you empty the dryer only to be carried off and left alone till the next load at which time they wait patiently for their match once again. Some get lucky and end up reunited. Some not so lucky.

Do you see that sock at the bottom? Yes that knitted sock! Yes, he has been missing his match....forever. I have been high and low and have not come across it. They were for my middle daughter. She wears them to bed all the time. Well, that poor sock has been waiting in the bottom of the basket for weeks!

So today I go out in the yard to tackle dog crap and I decided to clean a few things up. There was a bucket that was being used back before Christmas on a leaking pipe under my laundry tub. Well hubby had fixed the pipe and I put the bucket outside the backdoor. Well it got water and snow in it and had cracked and so I went to dump out the hunk of ice so I could throw it in the garbage and look what was in the bottom of the bucket.

The missing knitted sock! I guess it must have got dropped in the bucket because my daughter will throw her clothes from the doorway to the hamper which is in front of the laundry tub and the one sock must have fell in behind landing in the bucket. I never noticed it in it when I placed the bucket outside.

I got got the sock out of the ice. It is in the washer as I type. Very soon to be reunited with its match. Such a happy ending!

2009-02-07T07:28:00.002-05:00

Mitts for me...

Last Tuesday I went with my youngest daughters class on a field trip. Battlefield House. Very interesting.

I loved this part the best. The kids were able to go through the steps to prepare the wool for the wheel and then they were able to see the wheel in action.

Doesn't all that yarn look like so much fun! If only it was for sale.

On the way home on the bus Amber took a few shots of my mitts. If you recall I had made my sister a pair. Mine are all done now.

I am working on that sweater a bit but will be honest and say that another pair of mitts are on my needles. It is the most beautiful pattern. Hopefully they will be done quickly and I'll give you the scoop on them!

2009-01-31T10:52:00.002-05:00

January's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

I love how she turned the camera upside down with this one.

2009-01-29T22:27:00.005-05:00

The fun is in the kneading...

Bezzie your right...

The fun is in the kneading!!!

Another great recipe I saw here that I have done a few times. Not as long as the other one. Equally delicious. Went with pasta tonight.

2009-01-28T09:23:00.001-05:00

Peanut butter balls...

I know the title sounds sort of pornographic and many will be disappointed to know that this post does not include any photos of those kind of balls with peanut butter.

It does however link you here to one of the most delicious recipes.

Our friend made these for us at Christmas. After we devoured her batch, I search the internet for a recipe. I am embarrassed to say that there have been many batches made since. In our defense there is five of us in the house. The recipe only makes about 40 and they are small...easy to pop one in your mouth every time you walk past.

There is a photo but it is clean.

I am knitting the sweater from hell still. Only a man would pick a sweater pattern that has sleeves that are ribbed all the way up. I think my plan may extend into February. It needs done and I am starting in on the home stretch. I am dying to start something quick and easy. Soon. Maybe one of these.

I hope your popping over to see my photo a day project. It honestly has been so much fun.

2009-01-18T15:17:00.008-05:00

Skeptical...

Leslie blogged about this bread the other day. I'll admit I was skeptical. I mean it is a lot on involvement for one measly loaf of bread.

Well let me tell you, that it turned out to be one of the most delicious loaves of bread I have ever made....even the ones I use to make with a bread machine.

My house smelt so good while it was baking. We just finished the loaf up last night with homemade turkey soup from Christmas that hubby had made.

So what are you up to for the next 12 to 18 hours??? I suggest you see about starting some of this bread!

2009-01-15T21:11:00.006-05:00

Windchill...

It was my sister's birthday today. She came by and we went for a warm drink.

I made her some mitts.

It was left over yarn from this sweater.

She was pleased.

I have another pair on the go for myself but stopped to work on hubby's sweater.

It was -14 this morning. More like -22 with the windchill. Never seems to get her down even with the long (20 minute) walk to school.

This one didn't make my photo a day cut, but I think it is a cute one. I am really enjoying looking for that perfect shot to share each day!

2009-01-11T12:28:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid...

Here is a photo of my favorite, very worn with love, stuffed animals from when I was a child. I was in the attic putting away Christmas stuff the other day and stumbled across them.

The bear was from my grandfather, my mom's dad, who passed away when I was 18 years old. I have so many fond memories of him. Every summer we would visit him in Ottawa. He would come down for Christmas here. He gave the bear to me one Christmas.

It used to have a little sleeping shirt and cap you could put on if you took off his fur. Something had happened to him. I can't quite recall. I kinda think he was packed away when we moved one time and moths got to him. He had a big hole in the back of his head.

I was at my dad's parents house, obviously bothered by what had happened to my bear, and I remember my Grandma going to a big deal to operate on bear. She set up the dinning room table with all the stuff she needed. Needle , thread, a patch of fur. She told me to leave so she could operate. I was allowed back in once bear was in recovery. She had his head bandaged up and he was in a bed.

Here is a photo of her great work.

I am going to share this story with my Grandma. She may have forgotten after so many years. I really am so lucky to have so many great tales to pass on to my girls.

I had just been telling my youngest daughter about puppy love a few days before I found these guys.

Puppy love became mine when I was about five years old in the hospital, having my tonsils out. My dad bought him for me. He was a favorite.

Over the years my uncle, my dad's brother, would tease me about puppy love. He would offer to buy me dozens of donuts so he could have puppy love to burn in his fire place. He would "steal" puppy love if he came over and I did not know he was coming, because if I knew he was coming I would hide puppy love, and he would hang him from the ceiling fan so I could not reach him. It was all in good fun teasing and I "think" he would have never done anything to puppy love. This went on all throughout my childhood and even as a teen he would tease me.

On my wedding day at our dinner my uncle stood up to say a few words. As soon as he stood up I knew what he was up to. I stood up and he said, "I have puppy love in my trunk".

There I was, a grown woman on her wedding day, dressed so beautifully, hands on my hips saying, "No you don't, he is in the attic at home".

He said he had sneaked into the house to get him and he proceeded to take bids to sell puppy love. I wasn't sure if he was serious of not. I mean I was 99 % sure puppy love was safe. Hubby's uncle had bid up to $300. I would not budge. There was no way I was selling puppy love.

Hubby told me to take the money that his uncle will give him back. The thing was, my dad was right there and even if I wanted the money for puppy love, which I did not, and even if I knew I would get puppy love back and the money, it was something I could not do. He was special, it was special that I still had him after so many years and it was special he was from my dad.

My dad told me after I was nuts, I should have taken the money but I think secretly he was happy I did not.

It seems like puppy love has become a favorite again after so many years.

I plan on telling my dad and uncle about this. They will no doubt get a chuckle out of it.

2009-01-07T12:46:00.002-05:00

Heading home...

Yesterday I was at my oldest daughters school all morning. With her leg in a cast life is a little more exhausting then normal for her. There were a few appointments, trying to figure out how to accommodate her needs with the cast and her not being able to bare weight for transfers. They are very great at her school and it helps she is a good student. They are willing to cut her some slack. She stayed home today.

After I was done yesterday she came home with me early. It is a lot for her to deal with. I took this photo on the way home and was messing around with photo shop. I was going to use it for my photo a day yesterday but I had hubby take a photo of Amber and I kissing the cat. Amber was all for it being used for my photo yesterday. She loves this whole photo a day thing.

Anyway. I have not knit a lot. The first week of the new year has proven to be kicking the shit out of me. I am hoping things will balance out over the weekend and I can really get a good go at that January plan!

2009-01-01T15:43:00.016-05:00

Day one of a new year...

I have decided to do the photo a day for the year thing.

Last year I really wanted to do it after enjoying the photos at this blog for 2007 a photo a day, but didn't, for fear of not being able to keep up and not finishing the year. Stupid thinking. The perfect scenario will be that I post a photo a day for the year but it is okay if somewhere along the line it doesn't come out perfect. See I began thinking that I would much rather fail at this challenge then not try at all.

After following this 2008 a photo a day, I was inspired to just do it and not worry if I can finish it.

So if your interested in following my year in photos, bookmark my photo a day 2009 blog.

Now remember how I managed to stay focused all of November knitting those mitts? Well I have a wee knitting challenge for January. It involves only knitting one thing whenever I sit to knit.

Any guess as to what that is?

Yep. Hubby's sweater. This must get done! Enough all ready! Wish me luck!

2008-12-31T19:00:00.002-05:00

December's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

I love this ball shot. Perfect!

Happy New Years Everyone!!!

2008-12-30T21:07:00.005-05:00

Fourteen...

Porscha turned fourteen today. There was the banner.

Last night she had a few friends sleep over. Her request for breakfast this morning was waffles with ice cream, banana, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Definitely the way a birthday should begin. In fact, for my next birthday, I am going to do this!

I am not sure where the last fourteen years went. I told her how the night she was born I sat up with her admiring a freckle just above her butt cheek, at 3 am, eating chocolates hubby bought me. It was a perfect little freckle. Still there today. I remember being so content that night. She was a wonderful addition to our family.

She made such a cute ballerina.

Do you recall the ballet slipper story? Here are the slippers with the bells on them.

As cute a ballerina she did make, her calling was not such. This is a small clip from a few weeks back. Now normally she gets both shots in on foul shots, not this time. I love when they swish for her!!!

During this game I remember having a feeling of accomplishment. I was a huge part in creating this beautiful girl. It was an odd thing to have happen. The feeling was overwhelmingly so, that I almost got teary. She is graceful on the court (not so much off) and skilled. She listens to her coaches and never stops. She gives this sport her all. Maybe that is why I felt this way. Maybe it is because I see her growing into a determined young woman. Maybe because I am so happy she is grounded and focused.

She always makes us laugh.

She is a girl with so much compassion and love to give.

I told her I needed a few photos for my blog. I usually get an, "Oh God mom". I am not sure if she will head over this way but I have began saving my blog. Took forever to go back and save it all to disc. One day she will read this:

Porscha,

We love you. You are an amazing daughter, sister and friend. You are the best! Thank you for making us all laugh everyday! I hope you enjoyed a great birthday.

Love Mom xo

A side note:

Shel got her cast on this morning. Blue. Good color choice.

Looks like 6 to 9 weeks in the cast and no weight baring.

We have to laugh about it really. Do you see the irony in it? The kid in the wheelchair breaks her leg. It is funny. My goodness!

2008-12-28T16:19:00.008-05:00

A broken bone...

Well if you recall I mentioned a while back that my oldest daughter was playing sledge hockey. It honestly has been such a great thing for her. She loves it. Unfortunately she had a collision with another sledge in her game Saturday that resulted in her breaking her tibia just above the ankle.

They put a temporary cast on at the ER and we go Tuesday to see the doctor and they will decide what to do at that point. Having been in a wheelchair all her life, and not ever really used her legs the way you or I would, her bones are not as strong and I am a little worried about how this will heal or what they will need to do to help it heal.

For now they have said no weight bearing on it. This makes her life and mine a little more complicated because she does a lot of weight bearing transfers. So we will have to use our lift for everything. It will make life even more challenging. It isn't quite the way to start a new year.

I have no idea what will happen at school. Her bathroom transfers are 100% weight bearing. As well she is uncomfortable in her chair too long. She feels jumping and this hurts her leg. I am hoping that once she gets a permanent cast on this will not be a problem.

Thank goodness for the recliner chair we have. It is quite a comfortable spot for her and I think she probably will be sleeping in it while this heals because she can only sleep on her belly in bed.

Her friend came by to visit and amazingly enough she is in quite good spirits. I tried to get her to pout. She is too smiley to pout. That is a good thing!

Thankfully I am finished any stress inducing knitting I took on for Christmas. I didn't take pictures of mitts I made for my nephew and step-nephew and I also made a scraper mitt too but it was gifted. That sucks. A knitting blog and I forget to take pictures. ~sigh~

I made myself a pair of those mitts. I love these. They are a great fit and a great quick pattern. I should have took a photo of my mother in law knitting while she was down for Christmas. She began a pair of these. Now I think I am doing the increases wrong because my mother in law did them differently but I like they way my came out. It all worked out in the long run, so no worries.

Well the next few days are going to be nuts. There is a fourteenth birthday in there too. Deep breath and dive in!!!!!

2008-12-25T07:21:00.004-05:00

Santa's Been...

I am up early. Yes I could have slept longer but it is very nice to have a few minutes of peace before the fun begins!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

2008-12-22T20:26:00.003-05:00

Touching...

Another pair of those mitts done. I gave these to my oldest daughters best friend.

She gave us this bag of goodies.

There were chocolate covered jube jubes. Her mom knew I loved these and one time I told her about these jelly fruit candies that my Gram (my moms grandmother) use to have around at Christmas and how I use to love them. Both of these things were in the bag. Plus so much other great stuff.

There was a note from Shelby's friend. It was such a sweet note. Her thanking us for being such great parents to Shelby. For letting them have fun together. Just a sweet note that touched my heart.

Here she is thanking us when we should be thanking her. Thanking her for being such a positive and motivating force in Shelby's life. She is a bright light that truly shines down on Shelby and gives her determination and strength. I told her mom this when she picked her up.

It is these people in our lives that make a difference. It is these little unexpected acts that touch us. To have someone think of us in such a special way.

It happened last week as well. A mom I know online sent us a parcel of goodies. I had sent some ornaments to her last year and after putting them on her tree this year she wanted to send us some cheer.

To be on the receiving end of such special thoughts has really been so awesome.

2008-12-19T11:40:00.004-05:00

Snowy start...

Everything ready.

A pair of those mitts for Amber's teachers with homemade wrapping paper. I had Amber use cookie cutters dipped in paint to decorate parcel paper.

Amber decorated another batch if those adorable cookies.

Every Thursday night is her night to do what they call, "The Reading Binder". They bring the binder home, read a book, do a little book report and they can get creative and do artwork and what not.

Amber loves taking in pictures. She is getting pro at the machine at the drugstore where we go to print out pictures. She adds text and borders. Has a ton of fun with it. What I see is her thinking ahead, planning what she wants to do. It really is a great little homework thing.

So anyway, she said how she wanted to do the cookies and take them in because she was going to read a Rudolph book we have. Well, we could not find the Rudolph book, so she decided to read a Grinch book and said how she could decorate the cookies with only one pretzel antler so they were like the little Grinch dog reindeer. I thought it was too cute she had it all covered.

We were all set for the last day of school before Christmas break.

The board decided to close the schools.

This is what it looked like at about 9 am. It is a billion times worse now. Certainly a good call on the boards part.

A snowy start to Christmas break. I put the cookies in the freezer and the presents aside. Looks like the first day back to school is going to be a ton of fun for the kids.

Last night Shelby had to go to a Christmas dinner/dance. She took brownies and Christmas Crack. I found these containers at the dollar store for $1.29, perfect for sending goodies and no worries if you don't get it back. I layered the goodies with parchment paper between each layer.

Now off to enjoy our snow day!

2008-12-15T21:50:00.004-05:00

A must do...

I can not believe Christmas is almost here. Days are honestly a blur lately. I enjoy the times when I can just do the fun stuff.

Amber found these on the Webkinz website.

So easy and cute. Definitely a must do!!! I used my sugar cookie recipe because I could not find a sugar cookie dough at the grocery store.

Sugar Cookies

1 cup of shortening
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt.

Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Roll out and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at about 325 until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Take out of oven and let cool on cookie sheet.

I also just bought a tube of red icing for the noses and a tube of the gel type icing for the mouths. I made an icing sugar and water mixture for her to use to glue on the pretzel antlers and chocolate chip eyes.

I made up the cookies and set her up to decorate. She did a great job. She wants to do another batch for school Friday.

2008-12-07T14:13:00.001-05:00

The plan...

I managed to knit six pairs of mitts for my November plan. I defiantly am going to do this a few times next year to prepare for Christmas.....maybe a month of hats or a month of scarves and most certainly there will be another month of those mitts!

Life is busy and crazy lately.....must.go.catch.up!

2008-11-30T16:29:00.007-05:00

November's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

Amber asked me how to use the timer on the camera. This shot kills me.

This one got me laughing too, a post-it third eye!

Still a few more hours left in November.....I let you know how my plan worked out!

2008-11-25T13:30:00.001-05:00

The hype...

So this knitter has been sick with one heck of a nasty cough/cold thing. I even had to stop running for a few days. It was killing me not to run. This morning, although not 100%, I decided that since it was so mild and I was feeling a bit better that I should try a short run. I felt good and I think I am defiantly on the mend.

There have been a few things that have made it easier to be sick the last few days.

This pear cake.

A few weeks back my middle daughter came home from school. Telling me all about this pear cake her friend had in her lunch and how good it was. How when you say pear cake you kind of think "ew gross" but how she was so surprised how good it was and well, could I make it.

I always chuckle at how they assume I can just do it all.

With a little help from the Internet I was able to, in this case, do it all. I found this recipe. The first one I did she felt was to "peary", she is so her father's daughter. So the next one, the one that saw me through the weekend of sickness, had only 2 cups of pears. It was better. I will admit.

If I had of been on the ball I would have took a photo of me walking a small cake to my neighbors house in my jammies. I called and got her husband I told him to met me at his front door with an oven mitt on. That would have been a great blog photo!!! I had made them a small one for letting my daughter use their printer. We were out of color ink. Fresh hot out of the oven to the front door. Bet you wish I was your neighbour!

The next thing that I have been enjoying the last few days is curling up and reading.

Twilight.

Now I have been meaning to pick this book up and begin reading it forever. My older girls have the set and my middle daughter is reading the set again and can't wait to see the movie. My oldest daughter finally caved back in September and began reading them. She is on the second book, New Moon.

I often wondered what all the hype was. Seriously these books are so popular. They are the Harry Potter of Vampires.

All I will say is that I can't put it down and can't wait to pick it back up when I do have to put it down. The author, Stephenie Meyer, is an amazing writer and seriously captures you.

I am still working on my November plan. I will say I have not veered at all from those mitts. Those have been all I have been working on. I am proud of my commitment. In the past I have not been a very monogamist knitter. I am excited to be able to share my finished mitts at the end of the month with you.

2008-11-15T10:55:00.003-05:00

Up to 3.5 k...

I feel so neglect to blog world. I have had a lot going on. I am knitting. My plan for November is working out well. It just seems life is too busy some days.

I began a new endeavor. Some may recall that I walk a lot and that I have been working on losing weight. Well I did hit quite a huge plateau. It has lasted for a good 10 months....a few pounds have even weaseled their way back on. The only way I saw getting out of this plateau, was changing things up and jump starting my body. I decided I needed to set a physical challenge.

Let me say first how much I hated running. I have tried this over and over throughout the years and have never got why the hell anyone would do it. That was until 3 weeks ago when I decided it was time for change.

I am addicted.

I ran this morning even in the rain.

I am up to about 3.5 k. I want to get up to 5 k and hopefully along the way drop a few more pounds!

Happy weekend!!

2008-11-07T11:19:00.004-05:00

A smile on my face...

Patty over at Fibreholic has nominated me for this award:

She wrote the following about my blog:

Alisha over at Tales From A Self Taught Knitter – I think one of the things I really like about Alisha (apart from the fact that she is a great role model of a mother) is the amount of knitting she just randomly gives away. Like these socks? Here, take them! Like this market bag? It’s yours! Alisha is such a sweetie, I know you will love her too!

This brought a smile to my face this morning.

There are so many great blogs out there. I sometimes wish I could just spend hours and hours reading and commenting. I wish I could nominate every great blog.

Here are the rules:

The rules for award acceptance are as follows: 1. The winner can put the logo on their website/blog. 2. Add a link to the person who gave you this award. 3. Nominate at least 5 other websites/blogs. 4. Provide links of the nominated websites/blogs. 5. Leave a message at each website owner that you've nominated.

Here are 5 that I have chosen:

Random Meanderings: I ~heart~ Bezzie. The woman makes me laugh with practically every post she writes. She has an amazing sense of humour. She is so creative. I love looking to see what she has up her sleeve. She is the master mind behind K.A.Y.E. Be sure to go say hello. You won't be sorry you did!

Monica Knits...A LOT!!: I love visiting Monica's blog. She is a fantastic knitter and so quick!! I love seeing all her great socks. She always has some awesome yarns for the socks she knits and great patterns. I leave her blog thinking about knitting socks!!!

SMF.sportychic: Sabrina is such a free spirit. She is so stylish and I love reading about her knitting but as well her shop. I only wish I lived closer to her. I would be so visiting her shop and getting a cupcake!!! She gives the color pink a whole new meaning. And her dog is beyond adorable!

A friend to knit with: One visit to Leslie blog will inspire you for certain. She has so many great ideas and so many great cookie recipes. I look forward to reading her blog and just absolutely love her style and creativity. And the girl can knit some awesome stuff!!!!

Wilderness Witch Knits: Sam was the reason I began blogging. I am not sure if I ever have shared the story of how I met Sam. Years ago there was a crime that happened here in my city. Very sad. Right around the corner for me. At the time I was posting on a parenting bulletin board. I had made mention about this crime the day after it happen, how it was so close to home, how it was just sad and how it had freaked me out a bit. Well there was a poster that had joined the board maybe 6 months prior to this. She comments that either her and I live within a 5 min radius of each other or the exact same crime happened in her city. Weird. Well keep reading, it gets weirder. So we start emailing and find out that she is in fact in my city. She is a 5 minute walk from me and she actually is Gran's neighbor. Lives two doors down from Gran. Weird enough for you. Hold on...gets weirder. Well about 6 months prior to this Gran had a problem unlocking her front door. She called me from her neighbors house (yep Sam's house) I didn't recognize the number and never picked up. Then I listened to the message and called back right away. I talked to Sam. She told me that Gran was good that her husband had helped her out. Now how is that for crazy shit. Since this discovery and even with Sam moving out of the city, we have stayed in touch and her blog is one I visited daily. I love seeing her knitting and reading about her children. Be sure to wander over and take a peek!

I should take a moment to thank all the people who come by to read my blog.

Thank you!!

2008-11-04T12:04:00.003-05:00

One of those months...

So I got to get creative at work. There was a contest with all the libraries in the city. We won second place!!

Those are my socks. You can't really tell in the photo so much but most of the color has come out of the toes and heels......they look gray. Last time I buy hand painted yarn over the internet. The fact that the first time I wore them I had black and orange dye on my feet and even though I have washed them carefully by hand this fading has happened, makes me even more annoyed I paid over $25 for it. I paid too much for it and it honestly it is not any better then some of the yarn I buy at the store for half the price but lesson learned I guess. They helped us win so I guess that gives them a few points. Maybe I will turn them into flower socks like Bezzie did with some socks she was not too fond of.

I saw these pumpkin cookies over at Leslie's blog. I had been wanting to try them. This is actually the second batch. They truly are a perfect cookie. We added a bit of coarse sugar to the tops just before baking. We liked that bit of extra sweetness.

So trick or treating went well. On only three hours sleep I managed to get through it all. Eating too many mini chocolate bars probably helped.

Little Minnie. She loved it. It was simple to make.

It was the damn glow in the dark stick person that I had a heck of a time with. The glow in the dark paint would not show up on the black. I realized this around 1 am Friday morning. So I had to use white paint. I had no brush so I had to use a cloth to paint it on. Good heavens. Then I had to spray paint the green on the white.

She loved it and got quite a few laughs. So it was worth lack of sleep.

Amber's shot of her loot.

Leslie not only has great cookie recipes on a regular basis, she also has a few patterns she has written out. Those mitts is one I have been wanting to try. Leslie had done a month of knitting for others in July. She did a lot of those mitts and I thought that it might be a great idea to maybe take a month and work on nothing but those mitts, right before Christmas. Maybe get some quick gifts out of the way. Here is where I am at so far....not a bad start.

I am not sure I will be able to make as many as Leslie did but either way I hope to have a few gifts taken care of this month. I will share how many I got done at the end of November. Wish me luck!

2008-10-31T10:15:00.005-04:00

October's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

Hope everyone enjoyed a safe and Happy Halloween. I will share a few costume photos in my next post.

2008-10-28T11:12:00.002-04:00

Candy corn...

So I have been working on more Kiss Hats. I originally got the idea here.

Well I managed to gift the ones I had on hand and wanted to make a few more. Then while I was working on one I had the thought; how cute would it be to make one in candy corn colors.

So I did a baby one up.

For whatever reason blogger won't upload this picture the right way so you'll have to tilt your head the the right a bit.

My middle daughter saw that baby candy corn hat and said, "I call the next candy corn hat".

My youngest daughter called the next one.

So I decided to finally try the meathead hat pattern. It was perfect for this. It is also the fastest knit. Each one took about 2 hours. So quick.

Here they are in their Candy Corn hats.

I realized after knitting them that it should be yellow, orange. white. And how weird is that while I was finishing up this candy corn hat frenzy the other night, I was looking online for hat patterns, and saw this. Great minds think alike.....see the colors in those ones are right.

Even with mixed up colors still very cute!

I am off to cut out a dress for my youngest daughters Halloween costume. When we were in Disney she decided for Halloween she wanted to be Minnie Mouse. So we bought her these cute furry ears with the polka dot bow on them. Well I found fabric that was perfect!!!

My oldest daughter is wearing a costume from a few years ago. And my middle daughter wanted to go as a glow in the dark stick person. So I am going to go to Value Village and hunt for black tights, black turtle neck and a black balaclava and we are going to hopefully find glow in the dark paint and paint a stick person on the clothing, front and back. If it works it will be quite a funny costume.

I have been doing costumes for a long time and I think the tides are now a changing. My stint as costume maker is slowing down, which really doesn't bother me at all because I have been at it for years!!! So much less to worry about this Halloween which means more time for knitting and candy!!!

2008-10-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

Mad hatter...

So I have been on a bit of a hat kick lately. I saw the Fusilli Beanie and had to try it. Well three hats later...

The yellow was the first one. I was doing it for my niece for her birthday. Then the gray one was going to be a Christmas gift for someone but the yarn I used was from stash and was not the greatest for the pattern I guess. It seemed to lose its shape a bit after being tried on and so I figured it was better to keep that one on a small head. Amber has wore it a ton so far.

The purple one was going to be put away for a Christmas present for someone but Amber has been telling me how it was her teachers birthday and so I told her she could take it to her as a gift. She was excited about that.

So no Christmas gifts done but defiantly a hat pattern I plan on doing a few more times....maybe even before Christmas. It is an easy take with you knit....perfect for the sporting events in my life. It also hides mistakes well. I messed up in all three I think but you can't really tell. The perfect pattern for me!

There have been other hats too but I will save that for my next post.

2008-10-21T12:06:00.011-04:00

Another year past...

Sunday I celebrated my 38th birthday. Honestly it was very low key. My girls, my niece and one of my daughters friends made cupcakes Saturday night. I made a stew Sunday with corn bread. My mom and dad are in the city for a bit and so it was nice to have them around for my birthday this year. They are rather far away and we don't get to see them often and it probably has been a few years since they were around on my birthday. We had a nice visit.

I really was just rather lazy on my birthday. I was in jammies till well after noon!

Saturday hubby took me kid free to Mary Maxims for my birthday. I had never been there and had some fun.

This tye dye sock yarn is calling to me....seriously it is!

I saw this yarn online somewhere and wanted to try it. It has a stretch to it. It will make nice socks for sure.

I bought a kit to make a throw. I started that Saturday night watching t.v. I could not resist.

All in all a very nice birthday weekend.

There are so many leaves. Amber made a nest and was pretending to be a bird. Definite picture opportunity!!!

Last weekend when we visited hubby's mom and dad for Thanksgiving, they had a cake for me. It was too sweet.

My daughters friends mom, was telling me at the basketball game (where I was knitting) the other day how she has all this yarn and she'd give me it. She dropped it off the other day. Like I really need more to add to my stash but honestly how could I say no? Would you have?

I leave you with a funny. My daughters friends grandfather was at a sporting event I was at a few weeks ago. I had talked with him and then headed to the field I needed to be at to watch my daughter play. I got comfy and began knitting. His granddaughter (my daughters friend) was not due to play for a bit so he came over too watch my daughter with me.

So he comes up and he says, "I just won five bucks."

I was like, " You did!!!"

He said, "Yes, I won a bet."

I said, "What did you bet?" I was like all excited maybe I needed to get in on a bet or two...hell five bucks would buy a ball of some sort of yarn!

He said, "I bet you'd be knitting."

I was laughing. My back had been to him as he walked toward me to watch the game.

So then I said, sort of looking around wondering who he bet, "Well who'd you bet?"

He said. "Myself."

What a hoot!!!!

p.s. I promise some knitting in my next post!!

2008-10-16T09:11:00.005-04:00

Only three left...

Please tell me there are moms out there that feel so completely stretched. Please tell me I am not alone. Tell me that there are days you do not now which way is up or down. Tell me that once you get everyone dropped off to school in the morning you breath a deep sigh of relief that everyone was on time and nothing forgotten.

Lately my days feel this way. I swear in the morning I wake up thinking about when I can go to bed again. There are days I don't stop moving. Then when I do stop at say 10 pm, I am so exhausted that I usually just pass out.

Thank goodness for sporting events or I'd probably not get any knitting done.

I know some of it is me trying to do too much but it just seems I am forever catching up...whether it be dishes from the night before or unfolded laundry from three days ago. My house is never 100% right. I know there are moms out there that achieve this.....why can't I? Maybe that is the problem I am trying too hard to attain the almost impossible. Kinda like the women that have a baby and like 15 minutes after giving birth, you'd never even know they had a baby, let alone been pregnant for 9 months. They are few and far between but they are out there. We all know one. Well we all know that one mom that has her shit so together it is insane and we are left trying to strive for that impossible and somewhat unnatural home that is 100% in order.

I know some of it is that I do things like make these great cookies. Did I need to make them? No. Did it make me late yesterday leaving the house? Yes.

It was worth it because everyone loved them. There was only three left by this morning. It our defense the batch did not "fill" the cookie jar.

I think those three will go good with a nice warm tea. Give me time to regroup and tackle the next task at hand.

2008-10-09T10:13:00.002-04:00

What's on your toast...

Toast from here.

These were a real quick knit and I am telling you the last few days have reminded me winter is around the corner and I have wore them tons.

(As you can see, I am a peanut butter and jelly on my toast kind of gal.)

Now onto hockey.

Shelby is playing Sledge Hockey. I always assumed they had to be able to use both hands but they are in fact allowed a pusher. Her dad is her pusher and I think she is going to have a real fun season. Last Saturday was a try it out see if you like it practice thing. She loved it. I only wish she had of been doing this years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians. Enjoy a wonderful weekend!!!

2008-10-05T22:29:00.003-04:00

Header...

A beautiful shot taken by my father in law. Taken at their place. We head up there for Thanksgiving next weekend. He was showing us what awaits.

I promise to post one day this week....there will be knitting and someone in our house is now a hockey player. I will share some pictures!!! Very awesome!

2008-09-30T12:43:00.010-04:00

All things Mickey...

But first.

September's view through the shutter...

In the eyes of a seven year old.

We had a wonderful trip. There was so much I loved about the trip. I could write a post as long as my arm. Unfortunately I am lucky to be getting this done. Life feels just so so busy. I will say the one thing I loved about our time away was that we did not have to worry about all those everyday things that stress us out. We truly had such a break from everything.

I bought this cute apron. I wear a apron 99.9 % of the time when I am in the kitchen. I have a great denim one I got years ago but when I saw this I had to have it. I have all intention of making myself a few aprons one day. I'll put it on the list of to dos.

Now of course we had to buy the mickey mouse pancake mold. Stupid ass that I am only bought one. Makes it kinda slow making the pancakes. Good thing we are going back next year, (Yes I said next year. We honestly had such a fun time and decided to book a date before we left.) so I can grab a few more!

I also bought a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter.

I know this is such a quick post.

I will say I can not even imagine taking small small children there even though it is geared for those little ones. I can't tell you how many cranky hot little children we saw. In my opinion the older they are the better.

I will leave you with this thought.....Disney is a great form of birth control. If I wasn't finished, a trip there would have sealed the deal for me!!!!

2008-09-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the day...

See you round these parts later next week!

2008-09-12T10:53:00.006-04:00

Ju jubes...

September has been a balancing act. The last two weeks have been busy busy busy. In many ways as the girls get older life gets easier but then it gets crazier on different levels. The older two have much more pressure in high school....more than I ever remember. By the time the practices are done, dinner is done, the homework is done, baths are done, and there is a few minutes for me I am whipped.

So today on this rainy day I have decided to putter, knit, putter, knit and knit some more!

In the oven, as I type, banana bread.

One loaf has ju jubes added...

I know I read this somewhere on a blog and for the life of me can't recall who. Their Grandma I think it was, always adds ju jubes to her banana bread. So I had to try it because I may be getting together with my knitting club tonight (again does two people make a knitting club??? Ah the hell with it, I think so!) and I wanted a nice treat that we could eat with tea while we knit and talk....perfect.

I am curious how it is gonna turn out. I told a lady at work about wanting to try it and she told me that other day that she had tried it and ate most of the loaf herself.......she said it was so good.

Shelby's boyfriend Mike was here last weekend for a get together Shel had for her birthday. I was showing his mom these socks and she was in love with them. She was saying how her mother in law use to make socks but is too old now to do them anymore and she misses getting them as gifts. She is a woman who appreciates hand knit items. They have their own challenges with Mike and well sometimes it is just nice to get something awesome like hand knit socks just because so I gave them to her.......we are the same size feet so they were a perfect fit for her.

She didn't want to take them. I made her take them with only one stipulation, she pose her feet for my blog.

Honestly I love the feeling of giving people my homemade goodness.

Those don't count for Socks of Summer '08 because they were finished after it all has ended, another sign fall is upon us, so I just had one pair done and will sit in awe of knitters like Monica and her amazing ability to turn out pair of sock after pair of sock. I think I probably came in last for Socks of Summer '08.

Porscha made the high school basketball team. Forty girls tried out. There were four cuts and 12 girls made it through. She was pleased, as were we. She worked hard. Congrats to you Porscha!

I can't wait to go watch a game. Unfortunately due to my hours at work it won't be until we get back from holidays.

Those shoes by the way are a ladies size 12. She is taller then me too now.....I am 5'10. She isn't even 14 yet!

Only...

.....6 days left.

Have a fantastic weekend!

2008-09-08T22:44:00.008-04:00

Sweet sixteen...

I sit in awe of the fact that today I am the mom of a sixteen year old. I am not sure where the heck the time went. To be honest I am not even sure what to say.

I won't lie and say it hasn't been a rough ride. Sixteen years ago today we were new young parents of a baby whose future was uncertain. Arriving early weighing only 2 lbs. 10 oz. no one could look into a crystal ball and tell us if she would survive and if she survived, they had no idea if she'd be able to walk, talk, fed herself, show feeling, tell us she loved us. Looking back on it now I am not sure why we were not more terrified. In fact I don't recall ever being terrified. Not once.

Those early days consisted of many many hours in the NICU. I sewed doll clothes for her to wear (although the one in the photo was bought at the hospital gift shop). We bought a tape recorder so when we were not there the nurses could put tapes on of our voices reading stories to her. I made a name tag for her isolate. Both her Grandmas had made receiving blankets and I stayed up late one night cross stitching her name onto each one so I could take them down to the hospital so she'd have her own stuff. I remember bringing the bag of dirty ones home to wash and being able to smell her on those blankets.

We have done our best to make sure she did the things most kids do.

Over the years there has been many hospital visits. Surgeries. Fear. Days when your left wondering why she is dealing with these challenges and why we are dealing with these challenges. I am not sure the exact answer for that. I am a believer that there is a reason for everything, even the things that don't seem fair.

Shelby was brought to this world to make other people laugh. She survived because she needed to become a loyal friend to many. She is here to remind me to slow down and not sweat the small stuff. She is here to be creative and make her mark in peoples lives.

There are days I know I am not doing the best job. The days I lose my patience. If I had a magic wand I would erase those days away.

But for the most part I think we do pretty good. Shelby is a happy girl with so many great things in her life. She has much to be thankful for.

Here is her self portrait. She has photography this semester and had to take photos of herself. We put my old camera on a neck thingy and she is able to take the photos using just her left hand. I love this one.

As usual there was the banner.

I also made up a little sign to put out front on the tree.

Shelby's cousin made her cake. She had told my sister she wanted too. I thought that was so awesome. Shelby was so thrilled.

Dear Shelby,

I hope you get over this way to read this. I hope you know that you are a light in our lives that has taught us many things about ourselves. I hope you know we love you very much and I hope you have had the best 16th birthday ever!

xo Love Mom

2008-09-06T08:06:00.003-04:00

Mom's view through the shutter...

Friday on the way home from school.

I said no at first to the park. The winds were high and rain was coming.

Changed my mind. Glad that I did. And we even missed the rain.

Happy weekend!

2008-09-02T22:52:00.005-04:00

Off to learn...

I have to tell you a funny tale. Years ago, one end of summer night, I was telling my oldest daughter how in a few days she'd be back to school. I was sort of warning her I guess because she was young and had enjoyed the time off but we were days away from getting back into the routine of school.

She was so funny. Her response was that she felt she didn't need to go to go back school. Apparently, and these were her words, she had learned everything she needed to know.

How times change. She was excited to head off today. Excited to see everyone.

Her boyfriend came by and they walked to school together. Ah sappy young love. Makes me wanna hurl.....just kidding Shelby....you guys are cute!

My middle daughter headed to high school this morning. How did that happen? Two in high school now.

This is actually Amber after school. I had forgot my camera in the morning. To go back would have made us late. We were doing far to good to be late over getting a photo. So after school before she tossed me her back pack and did this.....

I got a photo.

Honestly I have never done or been consistent doing, because I have maybe once or twice, the whole first day of school photo thing. I guess it just never dawned on me to snap photos. Maybe it is because I am too darn happy to have them out of my hair....kidding. Sort of. Maybe because it is busy and for years prior to having help in, it was unbearably busy and pictures of that first day were the last thing on my mind. I just have never really done it. If it were not for blogging I probably would not have worried. I am glad I got a few photos today.

I walked after everyone was gone.

Made bread.

My bread machine bit the dust and so I was looking for a recipe online for bread. I found this one. It is so easy and turns out every time. My girls love it. And I can make their favorite little snacks with it.

You have to try this....so easy and so so good!!!

I even slipped into the hot tub alone for a few minutes before having to pick Amber up.

There was homework for the older two. I am feeling somewhat stressed for the older two. First grade 11 is tough stuff. Then Porscha is in a self paced school. She has the smarts and the grades but I think I will worry all year till I see marks. I keep drilling into her head she has to stay ahead a few steps or she'll get into trouble. I am excited for her and it will give her the freedom needed for extra-curricular sports because she can work ahead or schedule her tests when it will work for her and be able to go to practices and not worry about 4 hours of homework or a test the next day but I feel overwhelmed as she was telling me all about it......she isn't, so maybe it is just my personality, age or something.

I am exhausted. Off to bed. Is it Christmas vacation yet?

2008-09-01T09:21:00.002-04:00

Until next summer...

It has been a fun summer. Busy but fun.

Life seems to whiz by so quick sometimes. A blur some days. Now that summer is over we embark on the days leading up to our Disney trip. I imagine it will be here before we know it....much like the end of summer being here before we knew it.

My neighbour made the girls a countdown calender for our Disney trip. Eighteen more days till we go...

This makes me excited and nervous. This will be the biggest trip we have ever taken and the farthest we have been from home. For me it is huge because I am a home body. It makes me anxious to go away. I just have to make myself not worry about anything!

I leave you with a photo of me and my youngest.

Some of the benefits of having two teenagers in the house is that they sleep in. This means I usually I am up with Amber for a good hour before any teens begin to stir. It is nice for Amber to have me all to herself.

Yesterday we ended up in the yard with cereal and banana. It was the best breakfast!

When I pull out my camera for shots like this I get, "oh my gosh mom your crazy". I always tell them they wouldn't want me any other way!

I will probably spend all day today trying to get organized enough to make sure everyone is in bed good and early, including myself, for the first day of school tomorrow.

Is it bad I am slightly giddy at the prospect of having the house to myself for a few hours tomorrow?