Thursday, January 31, 2008
Time...
keeps on ticking.... I still can't believe Erin is almost 9 months old. Everyone says to enjoy her as much as you can. I am trying. Everyday I try to remember moments. We have a lot of pictures because of that. Here is a photo of her with her Omi... isn't she cute... of course I know I am not objective at all...
Monday, January 28, 2008
weekly topic #4
What is your most memorable vacation? Where did you go? What made it memorable?
gee... Probably our "honeymoon" - this is in parenthesis because we had already been married almost two years before we were able to go. We went to the island of Providenciales in June 2006. It was our first trip together anywhere that we didn't know anyone, weren't traveling for a wedding or other family function and didn't have any schedule other than our own. We woke up when we wanted to, ate when we wanted to, swam when we wanted to, snorkeled, went to the beach, snorkeled in the pool, and all around had a great time. If I get onto the other computer soon I will post some pictures. The water was bluer than any other place I've ever been, and we swam/snorkeled in an area that I can only describe as G-d's fish tank. It was incredible...and, of course, that was the one day the camera malfunctioned!!!! We even had the underwater camera bag system so we could take underwater photos... The only bad thing about the entire trip was the heat... of course, Caribbean in June, what did we expect, but the ability to go at low season when the beach was pretty empty was worth it. Also, we just stayed in the cooled air conditioning between around 11am and 2pm. Problem solved!
gee... Probably our "honeymoon" - this is in parenthesis because we had already been married almost two years before we were able to go. We went to the island of Providenciales in June 2006. It was our first trip together anywhere that we didn't know anyone, weren't traveling for a wedding or other family function and didn't have any schedule other than our own. We woke up when we wanted to, ate when we wanted to, swam when we wanted to, snorkeled, went to the beach, snorkeled in the pool, and all around had a great time. If I get onto the other computer soon I will post some pictures. The water was bluer than any other place I've ever been, and we swam/snorkeled in an area that I can only describe as G-d's fish tank. It was incredible...and, of course, that was the one day the camera malfunctioned!!!! We even had the underwater camera bag system so we could take underwater photos... The only bad thing about the entire trip was the heat... of course, Caribbean in June, what did we expect, but the ability to go at low season when the beach was pretty empty was worth it. Also, we just stayed in the cooled air conditioning between around 11am and 2pm. Problem solved!
Monday, January 21, 2008
weekly topic #3
What is the most 'random' memory you have from your childhood?
I have several random memories... One is of waking in the middle of the night and finding my grandmother in my parent's bed instead of my mother. I think this must have been when my younger brother was born. I was not quite 3.
Second memory is of "teaching" my younger brother and younger cousin in "school" in our basement. I guess I have always wanted to teach as I was probably 7 or 8 (my brother and older of the cousins would have been 4 or 5).
Third memory is in the basement of the house that we moved into when I was 2 and 9 months. There was a spider in a toy box and the door from the basement to the outside was open and the dog from next door had come in and was barking as I was screaming about the spider.
Memories are strange birds. Some that we have are truly our own, others are so shaded by what we have been told about an event that perhaps what we think we remember never really happened, but only occurred in oral history. Basically a lot of what my film "The Image of Eileen" is all about. Speaking of that film, I think I need to figure out how to upload it to YouTube or something like that. Ah... technology!
I have several random memories... One is of waking in the middle of the night and finding my grandmother in my parent's bed instead of my mother. I think this must have been when my younger brother was born. I was not quite 3.
Second memory is of "teaching" my younger brother and younger cousin in "school" in our basement. I guess I have always wanted to teach as I was probably 7 or 8 (my brother and older of the cousins would have been 4 or 5).
Third memory is in the basement of the house that we moved into when I was 2 and 9 months. There was a spider in a toy box and the door from the basement to the outside was open and the dog from next door had come in and was barking as I was screaming about the spider.
Memories are strange birds. Some that we have are truly our own, others are so shaded by what we have been told about an event that perhaps what we think we remember never really happened, but only occurred in oral history. Basically a lot of what my film "The Image of Eileen" is all about. Speaking of that film, I think I need to figure out how to upload it to YouTube or something like that. Ah... technology!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Topic of the Week #2
Now that we're in the thick of 'Winter'... has your knitting changed to match the season? Are you moving on from dishcloths, and tank tops to afghans, hats and mittens? Has your yarn changed from silk or cotton to wool, superwash or heavier cottons?
Um... I suppose one is assuming here that the projects started in the earlier seasons (summer/fall/early winter) are completed! So... since they have not been completed, and I have been trying really really hard to keep the works in progress down to a reasonable number, I am not changing anything. ALTHOUGH... I will admit to having almost completed in a manner of weeks a winter hat in a squishy thick wool/acrylic blend for Naomi. It was a car project, but then I fell in love with working with circulars, and it was such a quick knit I couldn't put it down. I have two rows left, but needed a second set of circulars to do it, so had to put it down. (Decreasing the crown and not being able to find size 15 dpns!) Anyway, it should be done this week.
I had wanted to make the Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat, but realized that I am just not ready for cables yet. Also, I didn't have size 15 dpns and you can't do the cable w/ just the circular (or maybe I just don't really understand cables) regardless, I found a much easier hat and will do the Unoriginal Hat at another point in time.
Back to the question at hand... I am still working on what I had hoped would be a late winter/early spring sweater for my daughter. It is cotton stria from Manos del Uruguay, it is very soft... I have been working on it since August. It is my primary project (except for the crochet Hugs and Kisses blanket being worked on upstairs) and my critter for my secret pal... I have the back and one front completed. I am almost done with the second front... My plan is to alter the pattern a little and do the sleeves on circulars which will then be much faster as it is in stockinette...we'll see what happens.
ok, off to shower now, darling Erin is out for a walk w/ Grandpa and Omi...
Um... I suppose one is assuming here that the projects started in the earlier seasons (summer/fall/early winter) are completed! So... since they have not been completed, and I have been trying really really hard to keep the works in progress down to a reasonable number, I am not changing anything. ALTHOUGH... I will admit to having almost completed in a manner of weeks a winter hat in a squishy thick wool/acrylic blend for Naomi. It was a car project, but then I fell in love with working with circulars, and it was such a quick knit I couldn't put it down. I have two rows left, but needed a second set of circulars to do it, so had to put it down. (Decreasing the crown and not being able to find size 15 dpns!) Anyway, it should be done this week.
I had wanted to make the Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat, but realized that I am just not ready for cables yet. Also, I didn't have size 15 dpns and you can't do the cable w/ just the circular (or maybe I just don't really understand cables) regardless, I found a much easier hat and will do the Unoriginal Hat at another point in time.
Back to the question at hand... I am still working on what I had hoped would be a late winter/early spring sweater for my daughter. It is cotton stria from Manos del Uruguay, it is very soft... I have been working on it since August. It is my primary project (except for the crochet Hugs and Kisses blanket being worked on upstairs) and my critter for my secret pal... I have the back and one front completed. I am almost done with the second front... My plan is to alter the pattern a little and do the sleeves on circulars which will then be much faster as it is in stockinette...we'll see what happens.
ok, off to shower now, darling Erin is out for a walk w/ Grandpa and Omi...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
outta town...
I am visiting Nanna right now, so blogging, email and most things are not happening... stay tuned for more from our regularly scheduled programming after Thursday!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I am lame...
So, I have this scavenger hunt... I was going to do it, honest... and I think I read about five people's blogs. And, then I realized, well, I am just lame. Also, perhaps it's that I view a lot of my time spent on the computer as a total time suck. My minimal precious time when Erin is actually asleep or playing on her own I would rather spend either knitting or crocheting or (and I know this seems bizarre) doing laundry. Seriously... I love doing laundry. In college I got paid to do other people's laundry. I once folded dirty laundry (I didn't know it was dirty) Anyway, I think you get the point. And, so here I am posting the scavenger hunt, and I will answer what I can... but, remember it is limited!
Hot Cocoa Scavenger Hunt...
1. Who's favorite animal is an Otter? not me
2. Name someone who prefers whipped cream with their hot cocoa not me
3. Find 3 people who live outside of the United States not me again
4. Name a fan of Harry Potter me - but I don't think I put that on my questionaire
5. Name someone who crochets me again
6. Name someone who DOES NOT have a healthy supply of notions me
7. Name someone who has NOT put up their questionnaire yet (just put a date with your answer in case they put it up after seeing their name listed somewhere ;-) ) not me
8. Who likes to have Kahlua, Baileys, or Peppermint Schnapps in their cocoa? me
9. Name someone who knits fingerless gloves as a 'quick knit' not me
10.Name someone who's looking forward to gardening this spring. me again!
11.Who's favorite way to drink cocoa is with a gorgeous Frenchman, while overlooking the eiffel tower from a French Cafe? (I'm right there with you... well at the table next to yours!) umm, not me.. but I wish!
12.Name someone who's favorite animal is NOT a dog or house cat me
13. Name someone who's favorite treat is NOT chocolate. not me
14. Who plays Candyland? ooh... fun! me - but I don't think I wrote that on my questionaire
15. Name someone who DOESN'T get the winter blahs and finally, not me again
see how much fun that was... and now, off to do some laundry - or more accurately, finish today's laundry!
Hot Cocoa Scavenger Hunt...
1. Who's favorite animal is an Otter? not me
2. Name someone who prefers whipped cream with their hot cocoa not me
3. Find 3 people who live outside of the United States not me again
4. Name a fan of Harry Potter me - but I don't think I put that on my questionaire
5. Name someone who crochets me again
6. Name someone who DOES NOT have a healthy supply of notions me
7. Name someone who has NOT put up their questionnaire yet (just put a date with your answer in case they put it up after seeing their name listed somewhere ;-) ) not me
8. Who likes to have Kahlua, Baileys, or Peppermint Schnapps in their cocoa? me
9. Name someone who knits fingerless gloves as a 'quick knit' not me
10.Name someone who's looking forward to gardening this spring. me again!
11.Who's favorite way to drink cocoa is with a gorgeous Frenchman, while overlooking the eiffel tower from a French Cafe? (I'm right there with you... well at the table next to yours!) umm, not me.. but I wish!
12.Name someone who's favorite animal is NOT a dog or house cat me
13. Name someone who's favorite treat is NOT chocolate. not me
14. Who plays Candyland? ooh... fun! me - but I don't think I wrote that on my questionaire
15. Name someone who DOESN'T get the winter blahs and finally, not me again
see how much fun that was... and now, off to do some laundry - or more accurately, finish today's laundry!
Monday, January 7, 2008
as promised....
I am posting photos of the hugs and kisses afghan... A far away shot, as well as a close-up so you can really see the stitches. Kim Guzman writes a great pattern. It was easy to follow, even though initially I thought it might be hard with all the "around the back" type stuff. but, I will never shy away from a pattern she has written! If you want the pattern for this, look to the right and find the Hugs and Kisses afghan in the project list...
While I have not paid any attention whatsoever to gauge or anything like that, this blanket is around 3 feet wide and I am not really sure the width at this point... I am basing my guess of 3 feet on the fact that if I hold the edge in my right hand, the blanket comes to the middle of my chest... I have no idea if that is a reasonable way to guess or not... but, I think I am about half way done with it, regardless of the current size.
All I can say is that I have done most of this in semi-dark as I am working on it while I nurse Erin in the evening and late wee hours of the night... however, my SIL did get me a little clip on booklight thing for Channukah and it has worked out really well - it does make it much much much easier to work!
Next is the little cap I made for Erin to sleep in... it's cold in our house and we decided she needed a sleeping cap - after all, I sleep in one many nights, why shouldn't she. Of course, mine is a Hartford Whalers cap that my husband got me for our anniversary, so Erin needed a special one, too. I was going to knit this for her, but, we wanted it done quickly, so I crocheted it. I am still much faster at crocheting.
It is a self-striping yarn. I am not 100% happy with it. The colors didn't change as quickly or as subtly as I would have hoped. It won't fit her much longer anyway, so in the end it won't matter. It was made with Dive yarn. A 50/50 wool acrylic that was nice to work with, and is very soft. Perhaps the problem is really that it has a lot of pink in it. The peach I don't mind. The pink... not loving it... and there's hardly any blue in it - I added rows to get the blue at the bottom edge...
And, this is our little devil trying to see what is going on downstairs in the basement... did I mention she is just 8 monthes old... and is crawling very well, pulling herself up on everything, and walks herself around our furniture as long as she is hanging on.... wearing a dress her Omi made her... how cute!
While I have not paid any attention whatsoever to gauge or anything like that, this blanket is around 3 feet wide and I am not really sure the width at this point... I am basing my guess of 3 feet on the fact that if I hold the edge in my right hand, the blanket comes to the middle of my chest... I have no idea if that is a reasonable way to guess or not... but, I think I am about half way done with it, regardless of the current size.
All I can say is that I have done most of this in semi-dark as I am working on it while I nurse Erin in the evening and late wee hours of the night... however, my SIL did get me a little clip on booklight thing for Channukah and it has worked out really well - it does make it much much much easier to work!
Next is the little cap I made for Erin to sleep in... it's cold in our house and we decided she needed a sleeping cap - after all, I sleep in one many nights, why shouldn't she. Of course, mine is a Hartford Whalers cap that my husband got me for our anniversary, so Erin needed a special one, too. I was going to knit this for her, but, we wanted it done quickly, so I crocheted it. I am still much faster at crocheting.
It is a self-striping yarn. I am not 100% happy with it. The colors didn't change as quickly or as subtly as I would have hoped. It won't fit her much longer anyway, so in the end it won't matter. It was made with Dive yarn. A 50/50 wool acrylic that was nice to work with, and is very soft. Perhaps the problem is really that it has a lot of pink in it. The peach I don't mind. The pink... not loving it... and there's hardly any blue in it - I added rows to get the blue at the bottom edge...
And, this is our little devil trying to see what is going on downstairs in the basement... did I mention she is just 8 monthes old... and is crawling very well, pulling herself up on everything, and walks herself around our furniture as long as she is hanging on.... wearing a dress her Omi made her... how cute!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
ready to post some pictures...
I took pictures today.... really, I did... both of finished objects and of projects in progress...and the pictures are downloaded onto the computer... but it's the computer downstairs... and I am upstairs... and my husband is working on that computer, so, it will have to wait until tomorrow...
Saturday, January 5, 2008
mmm.... hot chocolate...
The Questionnaire...
Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug? Cocoa is extra-yummy when made with milk vs. water, but since the hot water is usually already (we almost always have the electric kettle on), then water it is. I have never made any home-made recipe- although I will sometimes "doctor" the cocoa by adding a little bit of coffee - which I then call my "cocoa-mocho-chino" when describing what I am doing to my daughter. All hot beverages in my house are served in nice big mugs, with good handles to curl your hand around them.
2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? when I was younger I liked marshmallows, but kosher marshmallows aren't so good - so I pretty much don't bother - although I have been known to, when given the opportunity, to add a dollop of fluff (even though I rarely have fluff in the house - so this is usually at someone else's house!)
Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors? I really don't have a preference, although I do prefer bulky and super-bulky yarns - they work up much faster! I like navy, forest green, burgundy, sage green, pretty much anything but pink and lavender!
2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)? both - although I have only been knitting for a year
3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new? I just got my first sets of circular needles - size 10 and size 15 - loving them!
4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions? not sure what this means - I have been acquiring things as I need them
5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)? don't really know...
6. What is your favorite 'quick knit/crochet' pattern (quick gratification) in crochet I make a lot the Crochet Me "Baby It's Cold Outside" sweater as gifts as they are nice and quick. In knitting I have yet to find a "quick" pattern!
Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter? watch the snow fall, unfortunately that is not too often, but the best part of winter is that it is hockey season
2. What is your favorite animal? teddy bears
3. Do you get the 'winter blahs'? occasionally - especially when it is just cold and gray and doesn't snow at all- I love the snow - to me a light snowfall is equivalent to a nice sunny day when it has been gray for days on end.
4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? cuddle up in front of a nice warm fire, with some cocoa, some knitting or crochet, or, if I don't want to make a fire, cuddle under our nice warm down comforter and take a nap!
5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? working on our garden which is a huge work in progress - we did major construction on our house 2.5 years ago which essentially required us to pull out what was in the garden, so since then I have been slowly re-planting - the first year we put in some shrubs, last year we put in some perennial flowers, this year, hopefully some more!
6. What are your favorite treat? pretty much anything chocolate
7. What is your favorite board game? hmmmmm, I'd have to say backgammon
8. Do you have any children (furry or human)? one daughter who is now 8 months old, one betafish who we have had for 1.5 years
9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? no known allergies, but we do keep kosher - you can see more information about this in my posting for the knit coffee swap 3 questions...
Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug? Cocoa is extra-yummy when made with milk vs. water, but since the hot water is usually already (we almost always have the electric kettle on), then water it is. I have never made any home-made recipe- although I will sometimes "doctor" the cocoa by adding a little bit of coffee - which I then call my "cocoa-mocho-chino" when describing what I am doing to my daughter. All hot beverages in my house are served in nice big mugs, with good handles to curl your hand around them.
2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? when I was younger I liked marshmallows, but kosher marshmallows aren't so good - so I pretty much don't bother - although I have been known to, when given the opportunity, to add a dollop of fluff (even though I rarely have fluff in the house - so this is usually at someone else's house!)
Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors? I really don't have a preference, although I do prefer bulky and super-bulky yarns - they work up much faster! I like navy, forest green, burgundy, sage green, pretty much anything but pink and lavender!
2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)? both - although I have only been knitting for a year
3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new? I just got my first sets of circular needles - size 10 and size 15 - loving them!
4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions? not sure what this means - I have been acquiring things as I need them
5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)? don't really know...
6. What is your favorite 'quick knit/crochet' pattern (quick gratification) in crochet I make a lot the Crochet Me "Baby It's Cold Outside" sweater as gifts as they are nice and quick. In knitting I have yet to find a "quick" pattern!
Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter? watch the snow fall, unfortunately that is not too often, but the best part of winter is that it is hockey season
2. What is your favorite animal? teddy bears
3. Do you get the 'winter blahs'? occasionally - especially when it is just cold and gray and doesn't snow at all- I love the snow - to me a light snowfall is equivalent to a nice sunny day when it has been gray for days on end.
4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? cuddle up in front of a nice warm fire, with some cocoa, some knitting or crochet, or, if I don't want to make a fire, cuddle under our nice warm down comforter and take a nap!
5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? working on our garden which is a huge work in progress - we did major construction on our house 2.5 years ago which essentially required us to pull out what was in the garden, so since then I have been slowly re-planting - the first year we put in some shrubs, last year we put in some perennial flowers, this year, hopefully some more!
6. What are your favorite treat? pretty much anything chocolate
7. What is your favorite board game? hmmmmm, I'd have to say backgammon
8. Do you have any children (furry or human)? one daughter who is now 8 months old, one betafish who we have had for 1.5 years
9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? no known allergies, but we do keep kosher - you can see more information about this in my posting for the knit coffee swap 3 questions...
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