Knitting4Shirley

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Favorite Super Bowl Foods

2012-01-31T12:56:00.002-05:00

Is it really time for the Super Bowl already? Yay! I am not a huge fan of football so I love the Superbowl because it means that another season is over. No more delays in my Sunday night tv lineup.

The othe reason that I love the Superbowl is that we often watch with good friends and snacks - lots of snacks. Yum! Here are 10 of my favorites.

Pigs in blankets - truthfully these are great at any party.
Little knishes - they go really well with #1
Chips and salsa
Baby carrots and other veggies with dip, any dip
Beer battered tempura veggies - perhaps with a teriyaki dipping sauce
Whatever PW is making - have you seen her show? OMG yum!
Fried zucchini - but probably not this year 'cuz we had some last night
Chicken fingers - I'm not big on wings but I love fingers
Chili would be good too - a nice bowls of chili all dressed up.
Chocolate chip cookies - for dessert of course

What are your favorites?

If the Baby Sees Her Reflection...

2012-01-30T11:42:00.002-05:00

Yesterday Miss M was 7 months old and I took her to a play group. It had been months since we went and she really enjoyed it so much more this time. She crawled here and there, shoved stuff in her mouth, and smiled at everyone she saw. The biggest hit for her was the mirror around the perimeter of the room.

Then I was reminded that Groundhog Day is this Thursday. So now I'm wondering, I know what it means if the groundhog sees its shadow but what does it mean if the baby sees her reflection?

ECF - Books are Delicious Edition

2012-01-27T10:09:00.002-05:00

Today ECF stands for Extra Cute Friday. Here is Miss M experiencing But Not the Hippopotamus the way she experiences most things - with her mouth.

She thought it was delicious.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Movies I Want to See Right Now

2012-01-24T08:51:00.002-05:00

Marissa was helping Lindsey do her homework last night. By helping I mean crumpling the sheets of algebra into messy little blobs. She had a blast and her sister enjoyed watching her as long as there was no paper tearing or paper eating going on. This baby is so lucky to have such a patient big sister.

Anyway, I have seen more movies than usual recently. I really don't know why. You would think that with the changes in my household it would be quite the opposite. I can't even begin to speculate over the reason. I do know that there are still quite a few movies that I want to see. Some of them are already in my possession on DVD and some are still in the theatres. Sadly, possession doesn't really make it any more likely that I'll see them.

So what do I want to see? Here, as always, is my list:

The Descendants - this just looks good to me and, of course, it's got George Clooney in it.
Moneyball - yes, it's about baseball but it still looks good.
Crazy, Sexy, Love - we've got it on DVD. It sounds really good but possession means I can put it off indefinitely
Horrible Bosses - ditto
Our Idiot Brother - it looked good but mostly I just like Paul Rudd
The Wrestler - Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei
The Conspirator - I heard a whole program discussing this story and it was really fascinating
127 Hours - 2 words... James Franco.
Blue Valentine -I love a good drama
50/50 - did you see the cast on Anderson? I did and I've got to see this movie.

2012-01-23T09:41:00.003-05:00

Way back on the 11th I told you about one of the 2 gifts I knitted for the holidays. Today is all about the other one.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, my niece "R" asked for this when she overheard her brother making his request. She said she wanted an ear warmer in an olive green. The yarn for this one was just as easy as the yarn for the Fresca Hat. I happened to receive an email from Webs about the limited edition short skeins of Madeline Tosh Vintage and was instantly sold on a color called Lowland. Isn't it gorgeous? It's a good thing that this yarn is so awesome because the pattern I chose required me to knit about a mile of tube. Fatally boring if not for the deliciousness of the yarn.

The pattern I chose was called the Anthro-Style Plaited Wrap by Melynda Bernardi. I was really torn between a traditional ear warmer that was flatter (and boring) and this one. I also saw a few versions of this including a few that were cabled but the comments indicated that this one worked the best and it just looked cool.

Knitters often say that a pattern is about the construction but I've never seen one where this was more true. The knitting involved here is super simple and boring... a seemingly endless, stockinette tube. Boring! Then comes the folding and weaving which took quite a few tries before I got it right. I really don't think it has to be that hard. Better instructions would help a lot but once I figured it out it was fab!

The end result is a woven wrap with an invisible seam that is thick and warm and lovely. My niece likes it very much too. Even though it was quite late.

ECF - Indian Echo Caverns Edition

2012-01-20T22:02:00.002-05:00

The second day of our trip started at Indian Echo Caverns. To get in to the caverns you need to walk down a long stairway with a lovely view of the Swatara River.

Inside, we saw sights like this and heard great stories.

After that it was a hop, skip, and a jump to Hershey Chocolate World. A truly sweet trip.

Traveling Girls

2012-01-19T10:38:00.002-05:00

Isn’t it funny how you have the most to share when you have the least time to share it? Last weekend I took Stinkerbelle’s Girl Scout Troop on an overnight trip and we had a great time. Unfortunately since we got home I’ve been sick from exhaustion and now Miss M is sick too. But a trip as fun as this one needs to be shared so here it is. Our Lancaster trip in pictures.

We started at the Turkey Hill Experience which was new to all of us. We really didn’t know what to expect but I can sum it up in three words – Endless Free Samples! Really.

They had lots of great information there and I think that we all learned a lot. Some things were interactive like the exhibit above where the seals dispensed different scents on a slip of paper so that you could experiment with them together. Then again, there were free samples. Here is Stink eating one while learning about tea. They had samples of that too.

After that we headed to the Amish House and Farm where we checked out the farm in the bitter cold and met some very friendly goats.

We also took a really interesting tour of a real Amish home and I found out that I knew far less about the Amish than I thought and that most of what I did know was wrong. Good tour guides make such a big difference and we really lucked out on this trip.

Did you know that they use dozens of straight pins to keep these outfits together when they wear them. Straight pins! Ouch!

And this was just day one - part of it anyway. We finished the day at a hotel with an indoor pool with water slides. did I mention the unlimited free samples of ice cream and iced tea? These girls had energy to spare.

More tomorrow.

ECF - First Snow of 2012 Edition

2012-01-13T10:31:00.002-05:00

It snowed earlier this week. It was exciting and pretty while it lasted. It inspired dreams in the hearts of schoolchildren of days off . Even the adults felt a little thrill watching it fall.

Then it was gone. Oh well.

The Fresca Hat

2012-01-11T08:58:00.003-05:00

I never even discussed gift knitting this holiday season because I was barely knitting anything at all. It seemed to be completely out of the question. Then, at Thanksgiving, my nephew J, the college dude, saw one of Marissa's hats and asked if I could make one for him. He said it was the only thing he wanted for Hanukkah. He's never asked for anything before and I love him so how could I say no.

I asked a few more questions about style and color and he's such n easy going kid. He just wanted a hat, any hat. Nothing specific but he pointed to a bottle of Fresca and said that he liked that color. Happily, Cascade 220 came in a color that satisfied my need for depth and his love of Fresca green.

Equally fortunate was the fact hat I already had the perfect pattern in my list of favorites. Knotty But Nice by Natalie Larson really appealed to me. It had been a gave for ages and I was so happy to finally try it. I wasn't disappointed at all.

This was such a quick knit and it made me smile all the way through. The only mod that I made was to use different needle sizes. It says to use 7's all the way through but based on Rav notes I started with 5's for the ribbing to get a nice snug fit. Then I changed to 7's for a few rows leading into the chart before moving up to 8's for most of the chart to counteract the effect of the cables which tend to pull the knitting in and make it less stretchy. Finally, after finishing the chart I moved back down to 7's for the crown. It worked like a charm an I would do it exactly the same way again.

Now I just hope he likes it because it's still sitting in my living room. Weeks after the holiday ended. Fail! In my defense I should explain that his sister heard the conversation and made a request of her own. Naturally I said yes to that too but I wanted to send them together and the second piece was only finished earlier this week. I think that hand knit gifts are worth waiting for and hopefully they will too. More on my niece's headwear soon.

Committed

2012-01-04T10:53:00.002-05:00

This is the post where I demonstrate how serious I was in my list yesterday. I am beyond busy. I have meetings to go to, trips to plan, construction to prepare for, events to plan, and of course work to do and a family to care for. I yearn for a less chaotic time.

Yet, here I am blogging again. Not only that, I'm blogging about stuff I baked. Cinnamon rolls! Yum.

On New Years Day I decided that fresh cinnamon rolls would be just the thing to start the year off right. Sadly, they're not the easiest or quickest thing to make. The first attempt at the dough went in the trash and I'm not sure these rose as much as I'd like but, they were yummy and nobody was complaining. Let's hope that the sweet cinnamon rolls bring a sweet new year for all of us.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Things I Want to do in 2012

2012-01-03T08:23:00.003-05:00

It's the time of year when most people become introspective and ponder the year that has just ended. What was gained, what was lost? What was accomplished, and what were the failures? I'd love to do my usual and pick a picture and the first line from each months posts but one o the things that fell by the wayside in 2011 was blogging. There just aren't that many posts to cull from. I'd like to fix that in the new year. Its just one item from my list of 10 things I'd like to do in 2012.

1. Blog more - I still don't want to let it run my life and I refuse to feel compelled to blog every day but I'd like to blog more often.

2. Knit more - I am finally feeling the urge to knit again. It's like a constant drumbeat in my brain. This is ironic since I just started putting yarn and knitting stuff in storage.

3. Get my eyes checked - I've always had perfect vision and I was proud of that but it seems like age is catching up with me. I'm going to look at this as an opportunity to increase my style quotient with cute eyewear.

4. Get healthy - I have a free gym membership that I've never used and that's a shame. I should go on occasion. At the very least I can get out and walk more.

5. Eat better - I really do love salads and I need to eat more of them. Veggies of all kinds are good. Starbx... not so much.

6. Cook more - this goes with #5. I used to cook all the time but it seems like the bigger the family gets the less time I get to spend in my kitchen. Hopefully having a new kitchen will help to reverses this trend.

7. Eat more family dinners - we all enjoy this. I hear about my daughters lives and we talk and laugh and plan. I need to grab these moments while I can.

8. Take a vacation - this one should have an exclamation point attached. I really, really want to go somewhere with my family and just chill. I'd even settle for a vacation without enrichment (museums etc) at this point. I just want to get away and steal time with my family.

9. Read more - I've read quite a few books lately. Nothing stellar but very enjoyable. I do love a good book.

10. Take an art class - I'm thinking of pottery or glass blowing. It could even be a drawing class. I always look at the local offerings and

The picture is one that was taken on New Years Eve Day at one of our favorite museums. Enjoy!

ECF - Santa on a Firetruck Edition 2011

2011-12-23T09:27:00.002-05:00

For our family the holiday season isn't complete without a sighting of Santa on the Firetruck. This was Miss M's first experience with it but it surely won't be her last. Here it is for all our friends who are celebrating Christmas this weekend.

Holidays in Cupcake Form

2011-12-22T08:58:00.002-05:00

Among all the cards and cookies and Starbx cards that I got at work this year, one gift stood out... G-town cupcakes.

These suckers tasted just as good as they look. My family and I would highly recommend them if our mouths weren't full. Yum!

Happy Hanukkah

2011-12-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

May the candles burn bright.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things to do before the weekend/ Hanukkah/ Christmas

2011-12-20T12:26:00.004-05:00

I still can't wrap my head around the idea that Christmas and Hanukkah are here already. It seems like just yesterday that I was planning for my summer - last summer. Now the holidays are here and I'm getting reminders of stuff I must do to get ready for next summer. Ugh! First things first. I need to get through the holidays and all that goes with them. Here's a list of stuff I need to do before the weekend.

1. Knit - I didn't discuss gift knitting this year because I didn't plan on any but.... they asked.
2. Wrap - I did most of the wrapping already but there is still a little bit left.
3. Plan - this should be a great weekend for family time. I think that my girls are as excited about it as I am. That means I need to come up with great ideas for what to do..
4. Shop - I still need a few things. Not much thankfully, just one or two.
5. Cook - clearly we need to eat latkes. Bruce suggested chili too. Yum!
6. Go to the library - maybe I'll have time to read a little bit.
7. Set up the menorahs - we have new ones this year!
8. Go food shopping - if I'm going to cook then this is a must.
9. Take out the ice cream maker - peppermint ice cream anyone?
10. Check the movie times - movies on Christmas? Oh yes!

Party Weekend

2011-12-19T13:11:00.003-05:00

We were at a family event this weekend. It was lovely. Lot's of people I haven't seen in years. Good food and a lovely setting.

Truthfully though, I could've been wearing sweats in a hole in the wall diner. My grandparents were there which is a gift in itself. Look at how happy my girl was to be dancing with her Zayde. They were dancing to My Girl. How perfect is that?

My siblings were there with their spouses and kids. It's been years since we've all been together and my brother hadn't even met Miss M yet. There was lot's of baby passing going on.

It's enough to wear anyone out. Miss M was fortunate to find a cozy spot for a quick nap during the party.

Marley Baby

2011-12-15T13:20:00.006-05:00

This is the second hat I made for Miss M from Susan B Anderson's Itty-Bitty Hats book. It won't be the last but I am taking a break. I'm being forced to. My family says that it's time to move on to sweaters and scarves and socks, they're demanding socks again.

Anyway, I'll start with the reason why this hat got made so fast (aside from wicked cuteness). The yarn was all in my stash! Hooray! I had bought a supply of Elann Sonata and Tahki Cotton Classic for crocheting and it was perfect for this hat.

This hat really isn't that difficult. It's mostly knit with a few strategic purl and seed stitch sections. What makes it interesting is the color changes. They also make the finish work ugly. Tons of ends to weave in.

Then there is the icing on this cake - the marley topper. Here is a closeup of the marly bits. Suprisingly, these were pretty easy to make. They look fiddly but they're not. They do add to the number of ends that need to woven in though. Ugh - weaving in ends.

The hat may look just a little bit different in this picture (where she is being held by a friend of DQ). That's because this was taken after it went through the washer and dryer. It seems to have softened the look of it. The yarn is less shiny and crisp.

I really love the way it came out. Totally worth the effort.

A Week of Note

2011-12-14T10:31:00.003-05:00

I was struggling with a way to describe this week and I came up with "notable". It's the best I can do because this week has been really full of peaks and valleys. First, the valley. Stinkette was really sick and missed 4 days of school. For the second time in her life she had a stomache ailment that was so serious that it required attention at an ER. Today, after IV fluids, anti-nausea meds and lots of rest, she is back in school. I am so relieved.

The same day that Stinkette was getting treated at the ER, DQ was taking her road test.... and she passed! I can say it without freaking out because, due to funky rules here, she won't be legal to go anywhere without parental supervision until March. I can and will worry or then.

Another event that is notable in a really positive way is that last night Miss M had her first solid food. If you can call puréed sweet potatoes solid. We decided to start solids on the spur of the moment because she really seemed to want it. She was watching us all eat very intently and grabbed at anything within reach. It went like this:

Hmmm... interesting.

On second thought, I'm really not so sure about this.

That's what all the fuss was about? So disappointed.

And yes, she is wearing her Halloween outfit there. Why not? It still fits and the sweet potatoes don't show on the orange shirt.

Itty Bitty Earflap Hat

2011-12-08T09:38:00.005-05:00

Like many people, my Rav queue is amazingly long. There are so many designers and books and magazines... so many sources for more new and fabulous patterns. Because of all the possibilities it's always a little surprising when I find myself favoriting multiple patters from he same source. Maybe it's a sign. I should probably go get that book right away.

Often I do but then they sit because, like my queue, my collection of books is way too big for me to ever get to all the stuff within them that I'd like to. So I didn't get Susan B Anderson's Itty-Bitty Hats right away. Then came Marissa, a sweet baby without much hair. Let the hat knitting begin. I want to make them all.

I started with one that my husband chose called the Inca Snowflake. It started off really well. Noro Kureyon is always a fun knit and happily there weren't many ends to weave in when I was finished. The only negative was that it was a little bit big. Even more so after I blocked it.

Then came the finishing stuff. Lot's and lot's of finishing stuff. Embroidered snowflakes, crocheted edging and a pom-pom. I visited so many stores looking for just the right yarn. White but not too bright. Just the right degree of imperfect. The crocheting was easy but the embroidery was challenging. It's really not my thing but it can't be the Inca Snowflake hat without snowflakes. Right?

And then I started working on the lining. Stinkette and I chose purple and I really think it worked well. I am proud to say that I hand sewed the whole lining myself and I doesn't look bad at all.

Lots of finishing on this sucker! I'm not sure that I would've chosen it if I'd read through the pattern and realized just how much effort it would take but, I'm happy with the results. On this hat, everything just came together well. Even the accidents worked out ok. Like DQ put it through the wash with the rest of Miss M's clothes but it didn't shrink and the Noro is a bit softer now. Additionally, installing he lining made the ear flaps lay flat so it no longer links like my baby is going to fly away.

I'm definitely calling this a win.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Holiday Traditions

2011-12-06T08:49:00.006-05:00

Have you started preparing for the holidays yet. I have but I'm not making nearly as much progress as I'd like. I thought that I was doing really good but then I started making lists and it got ugly. Apparently, even though there is a constant stream of boxes arriving at my door, more are yet to come. Keep shopping.

At least there is lots of other fun stuff to enjoy about the holidays. Here are ten of my favorite holiday traditions.

Eat Latkes - Yum! Even if your house does smell like latkes for the next week they're still so good and so worth making
Decorate - l really love it when the house looks festive. For us, it starts with all the brightly covered gifts that we stack up on top of the entertainment center. A bowl of dreidls and gelt here, some window art there and presto!
Light Candles - this year it will be extra fun because we have 2 new menorahs
Eat Chinese Food - I don't know why but Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas. Just check you're local Chinese food joint if you don't believe me.
Play games - Oh dreidl, dreidl, dreidl
Party - Holiday parties are awesome. They're best with friends and some family but office parties can be good too.
Holiday music - I'm not talking about the kind they play in the stores. I much prefer the irreverent spins that people like Adam Sandler put on it.
Making cookies - my girls have always loved to bake and holiday cookies are an excellent excuse. My favorite part is decorating them.
Watching parades - I am a sucker for them. There is something about the bands, the floats, and, let's face it... having a perfect reason to start the morning very slowly relaxing on the couch.
Giving gifts - getting gifts is lovely too but I much prefer giving them. Really! There is something about finding exactly the right thing
and seeing the surprise and excitement on the recipients face that is just so gratifying

Birthdays - DQ turns 16!

2011-12-05T10:46:00.003-05:00

Today would have been my dads 69th birthday. I am reminded daily of all the really good stuff that he's missing but now more than ever. I am busy with so many things and I know that he would be really excited by all of them. It seems like every day Bruce, the girls and I are imagining his reaction to stuff. The election antics, the construction updates, the baby milestones, the Bat Mitzvah prep. All of it. And I know that he'd be only too happy to take credit for DQ's academic accolades. It makes me wish that he was still here.

Speaking of DQ, it was her birthday on Saturday and she celebrated it in style with a few close friends. I couldn't pull together a Sweet 16 party (brain is already overloaded) so I came up with an idea that I thought was a winner. I got tickets for Lindsey and 4 friends to go see Jersey Boys at the National Theatre. Then, because I had neither the time or the space in my car to ferry the 5 of them downtown, I got a car service to take them to the show and back. This may have been one of my best ideas ever. Very little cleaning or prep required and the girls had a blast. Teenage girls chauffered to and from a show in Washington DC on a Saturday night in a big, black, suv. Win! And for me too because I felt confident that they were safe. Letting go is soooo hard. Most importantly the show was really good (amazing according to the girls) and they had a blast. I'm sure my girl will always remember her Sweet 16.

The weirdest part for me was seeing 2 of her 4 friends arrive - driving themselves. I tell you, it was so weird. Seeing the collection of cars in front of the house, including the one that DQ will be driving in a few short months, made the fact that they're growing up so clear. Thank goodness I have Miss M at home for many years to come. Can you imagine what a basket case I'll be when she turns 16?

ECF - 5 Month Old Edition

2011-12-02T10:33:00.002-05:00

It's been a little while since I posted a picture of Miss M and what better occasion than to note her reaching the 5 month mark.

This was actually taken while we were away for Thanksgiving. It's kind of a funny face that she's making here but that's something we'll just have to get used to. I think it'll be quite a while before I get a really good posed shot of her because these days, if her eyes are open then she's moving. It should make it really interesting to get pictures of her modeling her new hats.

December 1

2011-12-01T09:21:00.001-05:00

I have to say, it's way to easy to take blog breaks these days. I seems like any time things get busy at home the first thing to get squeezed out of my schedule is the blog. It's a shame too because Thanksgiving is very bloggable. The travel, the food, the stuff we're thankful for. Rather than doing a full recap or posting all the stuff I didn't post last week I can just say that we had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Truly wonderful. We saw lot's of family and friends, ate plenty of good food and even the travel was way better than expected. Shockingly so. Try 4.5 hours of drive time from DC to NY on the day before Thanksgiving. I told you it was shocking.

Anyway, now it's December and I expect more of the same. Crazy of all kinds. We'll travel a bit to see some family. We'll be super busy just about every weekend. And we'll hopefully have a good time. I promose that there are finished knits coming too. Really. A bunch of them.

Drama All Around

2011-11-17T10:56:00.003-05:00

Today is a huge day for DQ. Huge! Monumental! Her school play opens tonight and it's a bigger deal than ever. It got a front page write up in the Arts section of the Washington Post last weekend and tonight a local news broadcast will be there to report on it. Why all the fuss? It's the world premiere of a play by a Ken Ludwig, a Tony nominated broadway playright. All kinds of folks will be attending and the shows are nearly sold out. Pretty stressful if you're running the house and making sure that att the seating goes smoothly.

Fortunately my girl is up to the task. I think that the stress of running the house pales in comparison to the incredible pressure she's been under for the past few weeks to get the sets painted because she was the crew chief for the paint crew.

Then again, she's also feeling pretty good today anyway because after the play (and the talk back with the playright that follows it) she and a bunch of friends are off to see the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn, the latest in the Twilight Saga.

Like any real Twi-Hard she'll be decked out in Twilight inspired gear. A t-shirt and the Eclipse socks of course and a new addition - her just finished Bella's Mitts.

There's not much to say about these that hasn't been said before. The pattern was clear and not terribly difficult except for cabling with that chunky yarn. That's not much fun. The only thing to beware of is that just off the needles these really didn't look great. They needed a soaking and stuffing to get in shape. Now that they're dry they look really good and I'm sure that DQ would wear them even if they didn't because they are still Bella's Mitts after all and besides, it's cold out there!

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Ways to Use Fresh Cranberries

2011-11-15T11:59:00.004-05:00

It's as if Carole was looking over my shoulder as I shopped this past weekend. How else could she know that I had cranberries on the brain (and in my shopping cart)?

So what will I be making with the cranberries? I have no idea but they were calling my name none-the-less. I look forward to getting lots of ideas from other blogs today so that I can cook this weekend. Yum! Here are Ten ways to Use Fresh Cranberries that I can think of.

1. Apple-Cranberry Crumble - I went searching my archives for a picture of cranberries and look what I found! The picture above is from December 2007. I think I need to find this recipe again right now.
2. Cranberry Compote - I have a recipe with cinnamon sticks and ginger that is fabulous. I should locate that one too.
3. Stuffing - I suspect that cranberries would be good in this too. Especially since I use apples in mine. Apples & cranberries are almost always a win.
4. Applesauce - continuing the theme.
5. Apple pie - have I exhausted the apples and cranberries link yet?
6. Sorbet - I bet this would be great.
7. Decorations - they keep their good looks for quite a while. Maybe in a bowl of a contrasting color.
8. Zucchini Bread - I know that dried cranberries are good in there - why not fresh?
9. Sauce - why not?
10. String them and hang them

Hats For Babies

2011-11-14T10:07:00.005-05:00

The pace of knitting around my house has picked up quite a bit lately.

Miss M is playing more on her own and that has freed up my hands to knit a bit. It's not quite at the level that it used to be at but I definitely feel inspired and my focus is returning and, lo and behold, stuff is getting finished. Yay. That's a good thing because the pace of yarn entering the house for those very inspiring projects has picked up quite a bit too. Ooops!

And books, I can't forget that I've added a book or 2 to my collection. One was the Knitters Book of Socks which I can't wait to dive into but the socks will have to wait a little while. Right now I have a baby with very little hair and winter is coming. Enter Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B Anderson which is a book that I had looked at for quite a while but never needed. Now that I have a baby in my house again itty bitty hats were required. She's still got the first one I made for her but I know how things disappear when small people are involved so it's just a matter of time before we get her ready to go one morning and there is no hat for her sweet head. Better to be proactive about these things and have a stash. Fortunately, there are lot's of hats calling my name and hats are such easy, quick projects.

The first hat from this book is one that Bruce liked. It's the Inca Snowflake, a cute hat with ear flaps and a bit of embroidery which sets of Noro Kureyon perfectly. It never fails to amaze me how different this yarn looks knit up versus in the skein.

I took this picture of the hat last week. Now the knitting is done and the embellishment can begin. Last weekend I got some fleece for the lining and chose some yarn for the embriodery. Who knew it would be so hard to find just the right white. I needed something white but not too white and not too perfect because the Noro is kind of rustic. I think I got it right but time will tell.

ECF - Fall Colors Minus The Snow Edition

2011-11-11T10:59:00.002-05:00

Brrrr... it's cold out there today. The true fall weather has been slowly creeping up on us and now it seems to finally be upon us for real.

Did you know that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away? Is it me or was it particularly stealthy this year?

Have a great weekend.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten things for your cold

2011-11-08T10:39:00.004-05:00

More proof that I'm getting back to normal. Not only did I remember to bring my camera to the Halloween party a few weeks ago but I managed to use it to annoy my daughters too This picture is a perfect example. I sat and sat watching balloons float up into the sky and tried to get just the right shot. This isn't exactly what I hoped for but it worked well enough. That and my girls patience with their camera wielding mom was shot.

It's Tuesday again and this week we're thinking about Ten Things You Do To Care For Yourself When You Have A Cold. Whew that's a long title. It's a timely one too. Now that I have a child in daycare again I'm reminded of one of the joys of that arrangement - the constant colds. Ugh! Marissa's got one yet again. Here we go...

1. Buy yarn - no known health benefits but it makes me feel better. That's got to be a good thing.
2. Sleep
3. Drink tea - it makes my throat feel so much better
4. Eat comfort foods - it's all about stuff that makes me feel better.
5. Watch movies - it really depends if I'm at home or at work and how bad my cold is. Sometimes when I feel really lousy I can't concentrate on a book but a movie works.
6. Knit - again, it's a mental health thing.
7. Stay off the phone - my colds are usually accompanied by a post nasal drip which leads to losing my voice. Less talk is a good thing.
8. Dress in layers - stay warm.
9. Take warm showers - mmmmm makes me feel so much better.
10. Relax

ECF - Art of the Occupiers Edition

2011-11-04T07:59:00.002-05:00

Today would be an excellent time to post pictures from Wednesday night's National Honor Society inductions. I totally would have if I had any. Unfortunately the ceremony was beyond lame and I was one among many parents in the audience waiting for a photo op that never came. None of us really needed pictures of the principal or the board speeking. We wanted shots of our kids getting certificates! Epic fail for the school.

Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) the Occupiers are still there for our amusement and they've created a bit of art.

Some is a bit more pointed than others.

I should note that there are well over 3 dozen tents in the park now and I have very mixed feelings. On one hand I get their point and I find it quite interesting to watch the developments in the park. On the other hand, they are making a wicked mess of the park which is really sad because earlier this year the park got a very expensive overhaul that included new concrete and sod. Much of the grass is dead now. I miss the days of people picnicking and chilling out during their lunch hour in the park.

Once More for the Twi-Hards

2011-11-03T09:28:00.002-05:00

If you have a daughter of a certain age then I'm sure you know what the title of this post refers to. I bet there are even a few adults looking forward to Breaking Dawn part 1. I'm not among them but I get it. Really, I do. I may not think the films are moviemaking at it's finest but to each his (or her) own.

The movie opening has inspired in DQ a renewed interest in my knitting. Specifically, she wants me to make a pair of Bella's Mitts for her. I had mentioned it ages ago and even bought the yarn but then it sat, and sat, and sat. Now my daughter is so hot to have a pair of these mitts to wear to the midnight showing that she enlisted a knitter friend of mine to split the task with me. That was the last straw! Out came the needles and I've been snagging knitting time whenever I can.

I will finish them (by myself) In time if it kills me. My knitter friend is a lovely person but there are some things you just need to do yourself.

The Neighborhood Halloween Party

2011-11-02T09:00:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we did something we haven't done in years. We went to the neighborhood Halloween party. Boy has it changed. It's gotten so much bigger and there are food vendors there now. It was fun for all of us. The girls and I ate, played games, and looked at all the cool costumes.

Tuba Guy was there in costume. He's become quite the local celebrity.

We all took turns pushing Marissa in her stroller and carrying her. Carrying was the better choice for showing off her wings. She was Tinkerbelle.

DQ went with us too. Bruce was going to accompany his girls but threw his back out (needed to stay home and watch football) at the last minute. We had plenty of fun without him. See below.

That is pie that you see all over her face. It was apparently up her nose too. That's the price you pay for beating your mother in a pie eating contest. So. Much. Fun.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T08:41:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was Halloween and it was unlike any that Bruce and I had experienced before. The best way to describe it was an intersection. On the one hand we had Miss M who is not yet ready for Halloween and trick or treating. On the other, we had DQ and Stink who went trick or treating with friends. They don't need us to take them around anymore. Not only that - DQ didn't even need a ride to her friends house because another friend drove her. (I'm trying really hard to get used to that)

I'm still waiting for DQ to turn our pie pumpkins into pumpkin bread but Stinkette and I couldn't let the holiday slip by without making jack-o-lanterns so we went and got 2 bigger pumpkins for that purpose and carved them on Sunday. Stink used one of the templates provided with the pumpkin carving tools to create a spooky tableau with a crow. I shamelessly ganked an idea from another blog and featured Miss M's hands in my creation.

Here are all three of our girls last night. A zombie, a vampire, and a sweet baby girl. Miss M had a costume this year too but I'll share that tomorrow.

Toys and an Early Snow

2011-10-31T09:08:00.002-05:00

My weekend got off to rocky start with a Friday that I'd rather forget which is why there was no post. Blame insurance adjusters, the unhelpful woman at the collision shop, a bad lunch and a busy day at work that kept me a little late. Sadly, Friday was also my birthday. The saving grace was a smily baby and a ton of lovely birthday messages. Moving on.

Better that we should celebrate Miss M's 4 month birthday. She's the one who got the great report at her check up on Thursday and she got a toy to celebrate. Yay for toys!

I tried to get a good (not blurry) picture of Miss M enjoying her new toy but she was having too much fun. She has suddenly realized that all the stuff we put in front of her can go IN THE MOUTH and OMG is that the best thing ever! Not only does her saucer have new stuff to shove in her mouth.... she can see us when she's standing up in it and spin herself around to follow our movement. Is there anything better than that?

It's good that we had a lot inside to keep us entertained because it snowed by us on Saturday. Such a crazy thing! DQ had the Homecoming dance that night and, like many girls, had to revise her outfit to include a winter coat to cover her pretty dress.

On the positive side, the early snow offered great photo opportunities. You don't often see snow on the fall leaves. They were really pretty.

So much more to say about the weekend and I even have pictures of some of it.

Dyed

2011-10-27T07:54:00.003-05:00

There are very few things that are true for everyone, everywhere but I suspect that the feeling of accomplishment you get from crossing things off your "to do" list is one of them. It seems like the longer the list - the better it feels. My list is about as long as it's ever been so this week has been really good. I've been going through my list and crossing off things that had been lingering - making phone calls and appointments, planting, organizing, straightening and dyeing!

The last time I showed you this yarn it was pristine white, wound up on cones, waiting for my attention. Due to rain, a super busy schedule, and fear this yarn was still undyed until last weekend. That's when I finally decided to suck it up and dye that yarn because it can't become kippot until it's dyed.

I really don't know what I was so afraid of. Yes, dyeing linen is different from dyeing wool but it wasn't hard. In some ways it was actually easier. No need for piping hot water. Even better, linen isn't going to felt! It's one of the few fibers that LIKES to be beaten up.

So I spent my weekend dyeing three skeins of linen in colors that Stinkette and I agreed on. Most of it is purple (seen in the foreground) and the rest is a sky blue (seen in the background). Truly the most onerous part of dyeing the yarn was rinsing it. Now it's dyed, rinsed, and dried. I just have to turn it into yark cakes and away we go. Yay!

It feels really good.

In Action

2011-10-24T09:26:00.002-05:00

This is a fairly rare picture - an action shot of Stinkerbelle. Hehehe. I really shouldn't say that because she does play 2 sports. This was taken during the second game of a double-header yesterday and a little over an hour after this game ended she was warming up for field hockey practice. Hardly a couch potato even if she does a excellent impression of one.

This picture actually captures one moment in a great day for our girl. She had a few really good hits and made a few really good plays. Add a little sunshine and temperatures that were just this side of cold and it was a great afternoon. A great weekend in general. I watched my girls do great stuff (all of them) and even got a few things on my to do list done. Yay! Sadly that didn't include grocery shopping but food shopping isn't nearly as enjoyable as the stuff I did do.

ECF - Occupy DC Edition

2011-10-21T09:21:00.002-05:00

This is what I saw when I arrived at work yesterday. Apparently the folks in the park got creative over night. The park police were not amused. They took it down super fast.

That got me thinking that there is a lot to look at in the park. It's not just tents. So I'm sharing some of the stuff that I found amusing. Whether you agree or disagree with them, they sure are interesting to watch.

Occupy McPherson Square has an identity.

A new twist on the DC license plates.

What would Ghandi think of all this?

And, finally, this is for Carole. Yes, they have a library here too.

A Hat For My Baby

2011-10-20T09:16:00.004-05:00

It took quite a while but my baby girl finally has a hand knit that was made just for her by her knitter mom. It's just a little hat made out of Dancing Leaf Farm Bee Bop yarn. Aren't the colors yummy?

These pictures were taken at the Sugarloaf Crafts Fair last weekend. DQ and I took Miss M and the three of us had a great time. The weather was fabulous - sunny with just the right amount of crispness in the air. We shopped and relaxed and had a great time together.

Everywhere we went people commented on Miss M's hat. The pattern came with the yarn and it's pretty basic. It called for a crocheted flower but that seemed like a bit much. I did think it needed something though, so I made a little pom pom. Perfect! DQ was wondering if a single pom pom should be called a "pom" instead. A cheerleader she knows swears this is correct.

Anyway, the most important thing about the hat (aside from the cuteness) is that it stays on. It can't keep her warm if it's not on her head. It does get in my sweet baby's eyes occasionally but I can fix the by turning up the brim.

I hope you don't mind the extra pictures. It's so hard to choose.

The Feast of Booths

2011-10-19T10:34:00.002-05:00

The Occupy DC folks are still camped out near my office and I continue to find them fascinating. Apparently I'm not alone in this. It's not uncommon to find random office dwellers roaming about the park - some with cameras - checking it out.

It's surprising that they're still there because it's raining today and they're predicting quite a deluge but the tents are still up. In fact, the community there is still growing and now there are several dozen tents covering most of the (newly planted) grass.

It's the new structures sprouting up here and there that amuse me most. I first saw this one late last week and it stopped me in my tracks. I looked at it from a distance and had to get closer to see if it was what I thought it was. It is! It's a Sukkah, part of the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. It really surprised me because these folks living in the park have done something that I've wanted to do (and not gotten around to) for the past twelve years. Amazing!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Ways to Eat Pumpkin

2011-10-18T08:15:00.004-05:00

This is a picture of a pumpkin I grew a few years ago. I really hope that we can get our act together and grow some next summer. We bought some pumpkins to eat this year and I'm sure that we'll buy more for carving but it's not the same as cooking or carving those that you grew yourself. It'll still work though and that's a good thing because I really like pumpkin. It's one of those things that I've grown into.

It could be said that I have pumpkin on the brain lately. It could have something to do with a certain frozen yogurt store near our house. They have the most delicious pumpkin frozen yogurt. Yum! And thus begins my list...

1. Frozen yogurt
2. Ice cream - I told my friend about my fro yo obsession and she told me that I missed tastes of pumpkin ice cream at TJ's.everything they make is fab.
3. Pumpkin spice lattes
4. Pumpkin bread - I love it when my daughter makes it. She was with me when I bought pumpkins this year. It was a hint. A broad hint. She is being obtuse.
5. Pie - duh!
6. Ravioli - I'm pretty sure that I've had pumpkin ravioli before but maybe it was butternut squash. Hmmmmm... I bet pumpkin would be good too.
7. Butter - It's just like apple butter. I think that I had this at the same place as the ice cream. As I said, all their stuff rocks.
8. Soup - pumpkin soup on cold fall day.
9. Pumpkin roll - with cream cheese frosting of course.
10. Cheesecake - this is another one that I'm not sure if I've actually had or if I'm imagining it but boy does it sound yummy.

Did I miss any?

Occupy DC

2011-10-11T21:37:00.003-05:00

I'm sure that you've all heard about the "occupy" movement but have you experienced it? Seen it up close? I have. I wouldn't call it a pleasure but it certainly is interesting.

The part of Occupy DC taking place on Freedom Plaza has been in the news earlier this week because they got permission from the park service to stay there for 4 months but I think they're nuts. I used to walk through Freedom Plaza every day on my way to and from work and it's just a big stone plaza on Pennsylvania Ave. So not a comfy place to camp.

Closer to my current office (close enough to smell it) is another Occupy DC outpost in McPherson Square. It's a lovely, shady, park and now it's home to a bunch of folks. They've really moved in.

I looked it over yesterday morning. They've got a nifty, well-stocked pantry with produce and condiments and they're out there cooking up a storm when I pass in the morning. They've got signs up indicating where the compost pile it and where the sleeping area is. I saw folks playing cards and a guy with a guitar. Urban camping at it's best.

As I observed it all I noticed some small children in their pajamas wandering around. I wonder what they must think of the experience now. What will they take away from it? Will they look back on it fondly in the future? Will they feel like they were a part of something big or will they think their parents were nuts?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things I Did This Weekend

2011-10-11T10:54:00.002-05:00

It's Tuesday again. Time for another list and this time it's a list of stuff we did over the weekend. It was a long weekend here in the U.S. and in the Washington DC area it was enhanced by fabulous weather. It was sunny and warm with beautiful blue skies and I took no pictures at all. None.

What I did do was enjoy time with family and friends and, happily, I accomplished plenty of things to flesh out this list. Here we go:

1. Celebrated Yom Kippur by going to synagogue. I am so proud to say that we went as a family and enjoyed some of the most beautiful services of the year. Even the baby behaved.

2. At the conclusion of the holiday on Saturday we hosted or annual break fast for some of our friends. The girls and I cooked up a storm and most of it was gone at the end of the day.

3. Finished my first knit for Marissa. She couldn't wear it yet because who needs a wool hat when it's 80 degrees out?

4. Started planning my next knit for Miss M. I'm thinking of a sweater. Goodness knows there are enough cute patterns for little girls.

5. Watched Stinkette's softball double header. We tied one game and lost the other but our girl made some excellent plays.

6. Took Stinkette to get a hair cut. Her lush, red, mane had gotten quite long and shaggy. Sadly looking at her hair makes me feel sad about mine which, post pregnancy, is falling out in clumps.

7. Bought pants for me and Miss M. One of us felt the need to wear a belt the other day as something other than a stylish accessory. Dare I hope this is the start of a new trend for me?

8. Hired an architect. OMG! This scares me soooo much.

9. Planted some bulbs. I got rhizomes for some gorgeous irises. If they survive I ought to have some fabulous new additions to my landscape this spring.

10. Watched Stinkette play field hockey. I get tired just watching her run around.

ECF - Three Month Old Miss M Edition

2011-10-07T07:36:00.002-05:00

Well, they're a week late due to the rainy days and Miss M's recent cold but finally I've got pictures of my girl at 3 months. And they're just in time for ECF. Yay!

Since they're a little late I've got a few extra to offer. She was in such a good mood when I took these. She was happy and smiling at me. I just love happy babies.

Note that my sweet girl is already decked out in Halloween duds. That would be her sister, Stinkerbelle's doing. Our Stink loves Halloween and insisted that her baby sister needed 2 cute outfits and she'll probably wear them all month long.

Color and Texture

2011-10-06T11:24:00.003-05:00

While it is true that I love fiber festivals and I'm missing both MDS&W and Rhinebeck this year, that not why I went to Montpelier last weekend. It would've been an excellent excuse but I already had one. I had to pick up the yarn I ordered for Stinkette's kippot. Here it is - linen.

I kind of love it even though it's going to be a challenge. It was a family decision and that's kind of cool too. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it worked up samples and shared them with Bruce and Stinkette and we all agreed that this was what we'd use. What surprised me was the reasons they gave. Stink said that she liked the texture and that it wasn't shiny. She also noted that it was more of a true white. Bruce chose it because it had more body and would hold it's shape well. I feel so proud! I'm rubbing off on them.

Although the linen was the first thing I picked up at the festival, it was far from the last. If I'm there then why not shop?

This was an early purchase. It just about begged to come home with me. It's a color called Grateful Dyed from Wild Hare Fiber Studio. Normally I'd say it was too bright but for a baby .... it's perfect. I just love the bright colors for Miss M. Maybe socks, maybe a hat. I'll see what it tells me.

Apparently colorful yarn was the order of the day because not only did I pick up a skein of Bee Bop from Dancing Leaf Farm, but I started knitting it up the same night! Lots of color here!

It's going to be a simple little hat for Miss M. It got cold here last weekend and my poor girl was stuck wearing a pitiful pink hat that kept falling over her eyes. I got to recognize the particular whimper she does when that happens very well. Now it's warm again for a few days and I aim to finish her hat before she needs it again. Then we'll see what kind of a model she is.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Things You Love About Weddings

2011-10-04T08:07:00.002-05:00

Today we're talking about weddings and what we love about them. It's been a long time since I've been to a wedding. Things come in cycles - everyone is getting married, then everyone is having babies, all those babies are going to school, being Bar & Bat Mitzvahed and now all those babies are going off to college. All of these events are exciting but there's something about a wedding.

Here is a picture I took of the flowers at my cousins wedding a number of years ago. Since I haven't been to a wedding in quite a while I recycled this one. Here's the list.

The Dress - I admit it, I was one of those who couldn't wait to see what Kate would wear when she married William. I think that half the world was with me on that one. A great wedding dress is a thing of beauty and a less fab one is a conversation starter forever.

The Flowers - I love flowers. They're a great opportunity for the photographers in the crowd and they're just plain pretty.

Food - Ok, this is a little iffy. I've been to weddings where the food was cold or just not good but that's not the norm. Usually the food at weddings is plentiful and good. Little hot dogs anyone?

The Cake - This really does deserve an entry of it's own. Aside from the dress I think that the cake is one of the things that people most anticipate.

Bridesmaids Dresses - Delight or Disaster? One look at the bridal party says so much about the event. Girls in neon, fru-fru nightmares can probably define bridezilla for you with excellent examples.

Seeing Friends and Family - We're most likely to gather together for 2 big life cycle events - weddngs and funerals. The former is certainly more fun.

Having an Excuse to Get Dressed Up - So many events these days are casual and that's a good thing but... every so often it's nice to have a reason to really get dresssed up. Go for a mani/pedi and get yourself all done up for real.

Music - If they've got a good band then a wedding can really get hopping. Dance to the music or just sit and lose yourself in it.

People watching - People do such dumb stuff - especially when they're drunk.

They're Life Affirming - There are few things that express our hope for the future quite as clearly as weddings and births. Both events tell the world that we believe that good things are ahead and we want to share them - with a spouse or a child.

What do you love about weddings?

A Sweet New Year

2011-10-03T09:32:00.003-05:00

Last week I took a few days off to celebrate the Jewish New Year. As always it was filled with friends and family but it was extra sweet this year because last Thursday Miss M was three months old. She's been having ongoing weight issues so we had a scheduled weight check at the pediatrician and the news was great. Our girl is well over ten pounds now! This means no more weight checks since she is firmly in the normal weight range for her age. Yay! Normal I'd punctuate a statement like this with a picture of our girl but she has a cold and red noses and eyes aren't terribly cute. Hopefully I can remedy the situation late this week.

I do have pictures to share today and they're from another great day over the long weekend. On Saturday DQ and I went to the Fall Fiber Festival & Montpellier Sheep Dog Trials. All through the long drive there it threatened to rain and I was really not excited about dashing among the rain drops as we shopped for yarn. We went because there was some specific yarn that we needed to pick up there. (more on that later)

We were really happy we went though. The rain held off just long enough for us to enjoy the festival and began on the drive home. Before that we had a lovely lunch including sweet potato fries for DQ and fresh lemonade for me. Yum. We saw sheep and some familiar faces. I also bought a bit of yarn in addition to what I went for. It seemed silly to do all that driving and not shop for real. ;) Besides, Miss M needs a nice warm hat to prevent any more colds this winter.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Do Every Day

2011-09-27T08:30:00.006-05:00

Today's topic should be really easy. Name ten things that you do every day. I bet most of you can do it but my daily routine is totally in flux right now. Some things are the same but over the past year things have changed drastically and it's not settled yet. So what do I do on a daily basis these days? Hmmmmm...

Brush my teeth

Shower - not just so I smell good. A shower wakes me up.

Watch the news - I rarely go a ay without watching a little bit of news in the morning or at night.

Put my watch and ring on - I don't sleep with them on. I always put them in exactly the same place so I can remember to put them on in the morning.

Kiss my girls - I never let a day go by without kissing my girls and telling them that I love them. I can't do it enough and it never gets old.

Make lists - I always feel like I'm forgetting something and consequently I'm always making lists ( mostly mental) of stuff I need to do.

Check my email - it's an addiction

Surf the net - I'm such an info junkie

Play with my baby

Discuss the day with my family - I find that as our lives get busier we really need to take the time to touch base with each other and catch up on what's going on. It's also the only way that I know who needs picking up where and when.

National Book Festival - 2011

2011-09-26T08:33:00.002-05:00

This past weekend was the National Book Festival and once again, I was there with DQ. We are so devoted to this event that not even the threat of a very rainy day could keep us away. We're not alone in that. The tents were packed - standing room only.

DQ and I attended most of the authors together. One for her, one for me, and one we both wanted to see. Happily, all were really good. Although I was worried at first that there wasn't enough that I wanted to see, I came to realize that you really only need one for each time slot and we had that.

We started with Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked and other books. Here he is with DQ. I've neither seen, nor read, his books but I really enjoyed his talk. He talked about his inspiration and how the book became a play. At one point he even broke into song. How great is that?

My pick was Sarah Vowell. I've enjoyed her pieces on This American Life and I had high hopes. DQ had no familiarity and zero expectations. We both laughed out loud. She was a great speaker, very animated and candid. That candid nature led to one of the most interesting moments. DQ went up during the Q&A period and asked the author (who is part Cherokee and has written about the Trail of Tears before) how she "feels about Andrew Jackson". The answer was "I fucking hate him!". There was more to her answer than that but still, they videotape these presentations and put them on the web. On the Library of Congress site. I wonder how many of these presentations need to be bleeped.

The last author we saw was Laura Lippman. DQ and I are both fans of her books. She was great. Even better, we got through the day without any rain. No Rain At All. It goes without saying that I brought my giant umbrella and DQ wore my boots. Had we not been prepared the heavens would've opened and the National Mall would've become a river.

How was your weekend.

ECF - Finishing Week One Edition

2011-09-23T07:36:00.002-05:00

Both Marissa and I have survived my first week back at work. Not only that but I blogeed every day. I can't say that I'm sure I'll keep up the daily blogging but it feels good right now!

Have a great weeekend!

Yarn Arrivals Mean All is Well

2011-09-22T08:19:00.003-05:00

When it rains it pours and that's never quite as true as when I'm talking about yarn. Earlier this week a large-ish box arrived. Bruce brought it in to the house and told me that yarn had arrived. I asked how he knew it was yarn before the box was opened. The return address? Nope, He said that a large box that was relatively light could only hold one thing. Hearing this conversation one of my daughters remarked that yarn arriving in the mail meant that things in our house were getting back to normal. They all agreed it was a good thing.

Another sign that things are getting back to the usual is the appearance of a semi-new knitting project on my needles. I say semi-new because I originally cast on for this in March or April (and only knit 2 rows) but since it's a baby sweater and I waited so long I had to cast on again in a larger size because babies grow fast. Clearly it's moving a bit faster this time.

It's not for Miss M. It's a gift for my cousin's baby. This is another Sirdar pattern with an amazingly unimaginative name - I think it's Jacket J. The yarn is Miss Babs but I have no details on that with me right now either. Does it matter? The important thing is that knitting is happening again. Yay! I'll get you details later.

Starting Again

2011-09-21T08:49:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week I mentioned that there were signs that I was ready to go back to work. Some of them were things like catching up on calls and appointments. I also started taking over the laundry although that was more a matter of necessity because Bruce was doing his best to destroy all of our clothes. I got back to the business of organizing and planning and generally reclaiming most of the tasks that are usually mine. And then there was the yarn... it should surprise no one that a return to yarn was involved.

It seems like only yesterday that I was planning DQ's Bat Mitzvah and yet here I am planning Stinkerbelle's. Part of the event prep now as it was then is the creation of a set of kippot. Stinkaroonie is a very different girl than her sister and I want every aspect of her event to reflect that. The location and menu will be way different and so will the theme.

With this in mind I requested some yarn samples many months ago so that I could test them out. Since then they sat and sat and sat as I did everything but play with yarn. Finally, as I started preparing to go back to work I took out the samples and worked them up. They are arranged in the order I tried them. First was a cotton bamboo which was really nice. I love the creamy look of the yarn. Next was a bamboo silk which was very much like the pure silk I used last time but a little thicker. Very nice luster. Last I took a bit of Normandy linen for a spin. Really lovely stuff.

I knew which sample I wanted to use almost immediately but I asked Stinkerbelle and Bruce for their opinion anyway. Happily, they totally agreed. Can you guess which one we chose? Which would you choose? I'm really curious to hear you opinions.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Headlines From the Year You Were Born

2011-09-19T16:13:00.004-05:00

Today it's all about the year we were born. I was born in 1969, a reasonably exciting year. Sadly, I don't have the actual headlines. Here we go...

1. The Eagle Has Landed - Neil Armstrong is the first man on the moon.
2. The NY Jets win Superbowl III
3. Woodstock is held in upstate NY
4. The Miracle Mets win the World Series
5. Sesame Street debuts
6. Hurricane Camille, the most powerful one in history, hit the Mississippi coast
7. The Godfather by Mario Puzo is published
8. The Beatles Give their last live performance.
9. The first Concorde test flight
10. The first message is sent over ARPANET, the forerunner of the Internet.

My Email Awaits

2011-09-19T11:32:00.005-05:00

I'm back in the office today. It seems like it's been forever since I left it back in June. I know a lot of people have trouble disengaging from work but I can't really say that was the case with me. Although i have checked my email on occasion I really only scanned it for anything urgent or answerable only by me. Thousands of emails await.

I'm afraid that I spent most of last weekend whining about having to go back today and wishing I didn't have to leave my baby so soon but in all honesty - I was kind of ready. There's only so long that you can spend relaxing on the couch before you feel the urge to contribute to humanity again. As much as I enjoyed the premiere week of Anderson (Cooper), I was ready. I was starting to accomplish things again which seems like a sure sign that I was ready to snap back to reality. I even have a new knitting project to share. Shocking!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

2011-09-08T11:15:00.003-05:00

It was a really eventful summer for us. We saw lots of family and friends. Some of us traveled a little bit and all of us had new experiences. Clearly our Berry Baby had lots of firsts but the rest of us did too - including our first earthquake. Yikes! Shortly after that Hurricane Irene hit us and left a hole in our roof. Double Yikes!!! Happily it's a small hole.

The girls and I went to New York where we covered a lot of ground. One morning we had breakfast in the Hamptons and then we went even further... to Montauk. That's where the big girls enjoyed themselves jumping waves.

Which made me smile as I watched them because they held hands most of the time. I suspect that gave Stinkette the confidence she needed to get in the water.

We also saw the Flanders Duck which is just cool because it's a giant duck. Nuff said.

More recently we took our Berry Baby to her first baseball game where she met Teddy. He didn't win the race that day either - and neither did the Nationals. But in New York her Zayde was happy because his Mets beat us.

Still Here

2011-09-06T10:11:00.002-05:00

It's sounds so cliche but I truly can't believe that it's been so long since my last post. I certainly never expected to take such a long hiatus but I suppose that it's no big surprise to anyone but me. Before Marissa arrived I had such big ideas about how my summer would go and everyone told me I was nuts. I was going to take my girls to beaches and amusement parks. I was going to read all the books I'd been putting off for so long. I was going to take my girls to summer programs they normally couldn't go to. I'd go to the pool every day. I was going to knit and crochet up a storm. This was going to be the longest summer vacation I'd had in a long time and I was going enjoy it to the fullest.

Reality is a bit different.

I did do some of those things but not many. Miss Marissa changed everything. I couldn't even do much on the computer. Not only didn't I post on my blog, I didn't read much online either. It seemed like every time I picked up my computer something got in the way. I thank everyone for all the good wishes.

Now my older girls are back to school, my sweet baby starts daycare in a few days, and I'll head back to work right after that. It seems like awakening the blog is a good way to get back in the swing of things. I hope to take this week to share a few pictures as my version of the "what you did this summer" essay.

Clearly the big thing I did this summer is in these pictures. In the top one Miss Marissa is 2 months old. The other one was taken a few weeks earlier. She was, and is, tiny. We're working on fattening her up. Other than that she's amazing. She is alert and smily and more fun every day.

ECF - Marissa Berrie Rose Edition

2011-07-07T23:50:00.003-05:00

A little over a week ago I gave birth to a sweet baby girl named Marissa Berrie Rose in honor of 3 grandparents she'll never know. She arrived screaming at 8 lbs 4 oz just after noon on June 29th.

Since then life has been a bit of a blur. Partly due to some very nice pain meds and partly due to the chaos of integrating a baby into a household that already includes 2 very busy teen/tweens.

More soon I hope!

24 hours!

2011-06-28T09:47:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow at this time I'll be checked in and counting down the minutes. I'm nervous and excited and all the things that you'd expect.

Last weekend Bruce and the girls were out of town at a family event. I was so sad that I couldn't go but there was just no way. I can barely handle being in the car to go to the store around the corner right now. Eight+ hours would be torture. I felt so miserable and nervous about their trip and being home alone all weekend at this point but the weekend turned out so much better than I ever imagined.

My friends called and visited and got me out of the house all weekend. I felt so loved and taken care of. It was just wonderful to be reminded that I really do have the best friends anyone could ever ask for.

Next time I write here I will no longer be huge and hopefully I'll have nothing but good news to report.

Softball, softball, softball

2011-06-20T13:51:00.003-05:00

As you may imagine, there is actually quite a lot going on around my house but sometimes it feels like softball, softball, softball. For my anniversary weekend Stinkette played in the All Star game for her league and, like any good mom, I watched every minute. I thought that would be it for the season.

Then we got the notice that she was selected to represent the league in the All Star tournament where the different house leagues played against each other. That was this past weekend - all weekend long! They played 2 games Saturday and 2 on Sunday. They weren't the Tournament Champs but they did come out on top of the loser bracket and that was no small feat. Stink made some really good plays. She's improving all the time.

And just because we hadn't gotten enough softball yet, she's now been chosen to play on a select team for the summer so my future still reads "softball, softball, softball". It's a good thing that I like to watch her play and even better that I like the other parents in the stands with me.

So what else are we up to? Well, I've been taking DQ out for semi-regular driving practice and so far, so good. We went to the county fair a week ago and saw Third Eye Blind play. I got the final stamp of approval on a family matter that has been stressing me for ages. We've been straightening up and streamlining all the stuff and generally getting our house - literally and figuratively - in order.

Last week we also marked a bit of a milestone as Stinkette graduated from elementary school. We were all thrilled when her name was called for making the Honor Roll. I think that she was as surprised as we were - in the best possible way. Above is a picture of my girl that duplicates one I took of her on her first day of school all those years ago. How time flies!

As if that wasn't enough, we're preparing for the arrival of Peanut. Talk about time flying! In just over a week we'll be a family of 5. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one.

ECF - TubaGuy Edition

2011-06-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

I think that Eye Candy, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Today's eye candy for me is something that brings a smile to the faces of people all around my area - TubaGuy! Last night, by chance, I saw him walking up our street, went out to get a picture and actually met the local legend. Such a great end to a day.

So who is TubaGuy? He's just a guy who lives in our neighborhood I think and for exercise he walks miles up and down the roads around our town playing the tuba. When you're out running errands or you're sitting in traffic and you see him it just makes you smile. One of those quirky, fun, things that makes me love where I live. And now he's got a FB page too for fans like me.

Happy Friday.

Car Seats

2011-06-08T21:58:00.001-05:00

So, as you might expect, things are changing around our house in big ways. Reality has set in and we are finally going through the stuff we saved from way back when our girls were little. All I can say about that is "what was I thinking?" The years have not been kind to a lot of it so out it goes.

Happily, not all of the stuff we've uncovered is awful. I found the dress that DQ wore in her first real baby portrait - the one that hangs in our house. It's still in good shape and it's totally a keeper.

We also found Max the Moose and last night we put him to work in exactly the same way we did over 15 years ago. Then, as now, the only thing we bought to prepare for the baby we expected was a car seat. Max was just the right size for the seat and Bruce and I used him to make sure we knew how to work the seat and then Max kept it warm until we needed it for DQ. This time it was DQ who installed Max in the seat for her new sibling. Kind of cool.

The title of this post was car seats plural for a reason. I took DQ to the DMV last Friday to participate in a teen right of passage - the taking of her permit test. Those of you who are FB friends know that she passed and now posesses a newly minted learner's permit. You can see that she's kind of excited about it and can't wait to get behind the wheel and on the road for real.

Of course in this picture she's in my car and that is not what she'll be learning in. Heck no! As excited as I am for her I have not completely lost my mind. We've got the perfect car for her to learn on - much older, bigger, and with a few dings already. She's just happy to drive anything at this point.

It Floated!

2011-06-06T14:13:00.002-05:00

I sent out an email this morning to the parents of the girls in the Girl Scout troop that I lead with Exceeding Expectations as the subject and it was such a good feeling. It was truly the only way to describe the event we took part in yesterday. The annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.

No this was not our boat. It was built by another group and we all looked at it in disbelief but it really was cardboard. It was also kind of unstable which led to us referring to it as flipper - 'cuz it flipped to one side in one race and the other in the next.

Anyway, after building the event up for my girls for a very long time, we started building our boat about 6-8 weeks ago and it was anything but smooth sailing. We struggled with design and adhesives and then came the push to get it painted. We wanted to get as much paint on the boat as possible to prevent water from getting to the cardboard. In the end, this was our boat.

Note: no Girl Scout cookies were wasted in this effort - those boxes were empty.

Yesterday was the big day and most of the parents and the girls were convinced that we'd sink like a stone. However, you should never underestimate girl power (or the determination of their moms). Our boat floated!

We were able to participate in the 2 races that I had entered us into and - wonder of wonders - we were still in good enough shape to enter the Survivor's race where all of the boats that were still standing race for bragging rights at the end. We sank midway through that one but by then nobody was upset about it at all. In fact, we cheered when our boat went down. It served us well.

It was such a great day and all of the girls present had a chance to crew the boat. It couldn't have been a better day... except if we had won one of our races. That would've been nice. But sometimes just making a good showing really is a victory in itself and this was one of those times.

ECF - Lollipop Flowers Edition

2011-06-03T06:58:00.001-05:00

Positive Thoughts

2011-06-02T10:41:00.002-05:00

As the title of this post should indicate, I'm feeling more positive today than I was last week. It's not that I don't have stuff to complain about - broken TVs, rude people, stress, an overly busy schedule to name a few - but thanks to a recent flurry of activity I'm feeling like I've gotten a lot accomplished.

This picture was taken at a local event space. It's so pretty. There were tons of flowers and green space - all the things I love. But there was another site that spoke to all of us clearly and decisively. Our next huge event is still a year away but with a small human joining the mix that includes 2 teen/preteens who are super busy all the time I feel better doing my planning way in advance. But I did take a few pictures of this place just to pretty up the blog.

Other things that are making me happy right now include softball. Stinkerbelle's team really came together in the end of the season to win the last 2 games. One of them ended with an amazing double-play. There really is nothing better than seeing your child doing well and smiling broadly in victory. Tonight is the first playoff game. I really hope that they do well.

We also got a bunch of shopping done so that I am prepared with gifts for the 3 Bar/Bat Mitzvah's we'll attend in the next month. Yay! No last minute panic. Not only that but I got Stinkette dresses for the events and one of them is killer! My girl, the same one who was very tomboyish until recently, was primping and posing in front of the mirror and told me that she felt pretty. I melt.

I also got ton's of other stuff done but the bottom line is that I feel a little more in control - like this all might come together and work after all. Which is not to say that I'm ready for this baby right now. Oh no! I've still got lot's to do but I'm getting there.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things to Put in a Salad

2011-05-31T20:46:00.002-05:00

I love salads! In fact, I eat a salad most Fridays for lunch. I eat them other times too but Fridays are almost always the same - I grab a good book or magazine and go out for my favorite salad and an iced tea. It's the perfect way to end the week as far as I'm concerned. So what's in my salad? Well, the first five items on this list... the rest are things I like on salads in general.

Field Greens - I like Romaine or green leaf lettuce too.

Dried Cranberries - Yum, yum, yum

Gorgonzola cheese - other cheese is good too.

Pistachios

Dressing - on my favorite salad it's a sherry vinaigrette.

Croutons - crunch is a good thing.

Mandarin oranges

Bacon bits

Shredded Carrots

Hard Boiled Eggs - in little bits.

Forget that weekend and move on

2011-05-23T10:08:00.003-05:00

The weekend is over and I feel so frustrated. To be sure, there were some highlights and most of them had to do with Stinkette's sporting events. I forgot to bring my camera to the softball game on Saturday and it's a shame because with the exception of one play my girl was on. There are days when, for whatever reason, she's less engaged but this wasn't one of them. She got a really good hit(a double)in the first at bat and followed it up with many good plays that used her strong arm to it's best.

I remembered to bring my camera to her last field hockey practice on Sunday. She didn't have as many outstanding moments then but she was having fun and learning a lot. Here's an action shot of my girl.

If only the rest of the weekend had been as good. Instead it was dominated by 3 things that are ticking me off about equally. The worst part is that none of them are resolved.

Friday night I finally got a special mailing from People Magazine. I tore it open excitedly... and cursed madly for the rest of the evening. A few weeks ago my copy of the Royal Wedding issue got lost in the mail so I sent a request for a replacement and heard nothing at all for the longest time. As a subscriber for n embarrassingly long time (predating kids and marriage) I was ticked. They finally sent me something and it's the wrong freakin' issue. The one issue i really looked forward to is still missing.

But it gets worse. On Saturday I got another item in the mail that was long delayed. It was the photo album from DQ's Bat Mitzvah over 2 years ago! And it's wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Pictures still have glares spots. The style is wrong. Worst of all - the date printed in big letters on the cover is wrong.

As if all that wasn't bad enough, Sunday brought new aggravation in the form of roots in out sewer line. I'll leave out the details on that one but, suffice to say, it was not a good day at our house. They're supposed to come and finish fixing it today.

At least next weekend is a long one. It had better be wicked good to make up for this one.

ECF - Hello Darkness Edition

2011-05-13T13:10:00.003-05:00

There are plenty of things blooming in my yard this year in a manner best termed as underperforming but, happily my Hello Darkness bearded Irises are not among them.

There are about 2 dozen blooms in various stages in my yard right now and I love them but photographing them is another story. Not easy at all.

In order to get a real appreciation you need to see them with the light behind them but then you get something like this.

Highly unsatisfying!

Then, a few days ago, I remembered my polarizing lens. I'd had it for ages and never used it. Until now.

Finally I can do these beauties justice.

Stash Aquisition Without Reason

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-05:00

While knitting and crocheting are still stalled, my stash continues to grow, albeit at a much slower pace. I may have aquired a bit of Wollmeise laceweight and a few new magazines. And then there's this.

This is Studio Sport from the Neighborhood Fiber Co. is a divine color (a little darker in reality) called Cooper Circle and it's the closest I'll get to knitting for Peanut prior to birth. I plan to pack this up in my bag along with a simple pattern and set of needles and a bit of ribbon. While I'm stuck in the hospital I hope to make a little hat for the baby to wear home - with ribbon if it's a girl, plain if it's not. Since I'll be there for a few days I think I can do it.

I also got this, a bit of Jared Flood's new yarn, Shelter, in a yummy red called Long Johns. I really wish that you could feel it. It's marvelous! I love nontraditional colors on babies and I see the 5 skeins of this becoming a nice, warm, fall sweater for Peanut.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Tips for Throwing a Big Party

2011-05-10T12:12:00.002-05:00

Smetimes when I see the TOT topics I feel as if someone was reading my mind. Just last weekend we started the process of choosing a venue for our families next big party (in May 2012). I take party planning very seriously whether it's a celebration at the house or something bigger. I can't say that I'm an expert but it's something I enjoy. Here's my list:

Location, location, location - For me it all starts here. If it's a house party then it's easy but if not then for me it's got to be somewhere interesting. This is just me but I feel like if I'm asking people to fly and drive long distances to be with us then it needs to be something other than a generic party room.

Food for Everyone - not just for me. We have family and friends with various food needs - kosher, vegetarian, and gluten free. I always feel like I need to accomodate them all. It shows that I care and that I really do want them there.

Good Food - not only should there be something for everyone with restricted diets, but there should be something for most palates too. A party that only includes your favorite foods may send many people home hungry and disappointed.

Music - This time around it'll be Stinkette's party so she'll choose the music but I'll be sure to give a little guidance so that it doesn't get too crazy.

Space - this goes back to the location. I need to make sure that I can envision all of us comfortably in the party space. It's got to flow and feel good.

Accessibility - for older relatives and now, for all of us with infants too.

Parking - hiking to the party is no fun. Decent parking is a must.

Outdoor Space - I know that this one isn't for everyone but I really can't imagine a party that doesn't include the outside in some way. It could be our deck at a house party, a terrace at DQ's Bat Mitzvah, or a little garden where guests can escape the music. I just need a little outdoor space.

Choose the Right Time - I find that this is especially important when I plan events at work even though they're not technically parties. If you're going to all the trouble of planning the event then consult a calendar and use some common sense to choose a good time.

Have Fun and Don't Stress Too Much - Ok, I pretty much suck at this one but a party really ought to be fun for you AND your guests. It's important to accomodate your guests but don't forget to include things that make you happy too. It's not the end of the world if it's not perfect.

Your party should be a day that makes you smile every time you think about it.

Last Minute Birthday

2011-05-08T21:58:00.003-05:00

I did not go to MDS&W this weekend. It was the first time that I've missed it in 5-6 years. I thought that I'd feel sad about it but I was so busy that I hadn't the time to really think about it. My checkbook is much the better for it though.

There were many things keeping us busy. DQ was caught up in the last weekend of the school play, Wizard of Oz, - they sold out a few nights! Stinkette had softball and field hockey. We all did a few errands including the start of our search for a party venue.

The biggest thing was celebrating Stinkette's 12th birthday. I agonized over it all last week. Birthdays have always been big for me - ballons, unique cupcakes and cakes. Elaborate plans including crafts and entertainment. I wanted each of my girls birthdays to be memorable and different. Alas this year I just couldn't work anything out and last one night last week I had a bit of a melt down. The fact that my girl was being so patient, waiting with infinite confidence that I'd pull a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute didn't help.

Then, on Saturday, I realized that the answer was right there all the time - like Dorothy's Ruby Slippers. We had always planned to take Stinkaroonie to see Thor on her birthday. She just loves the comic movies. Then, just before noon she asked if she could invite 2 close friends to come with us. * insert lightbulb moment here* Add dinner before the movie and a sleep over after and it was perfect. Bruce and I sat a little apart from the girls at dinner and the movie and had that sinking feeling that our days of chaperoning her are numbered. We all loved the movie and my girl had the perfect day... except for losing her softball game. That was a a bummer.

ECF - Chocolate Turtle Edition

2011-05-05T22:42:00.002-05:00

It's cupcake time again. You know what that means - someone in my house is celebrating a birthday. My sweet Stinkette turns 12 tomorrow.

As I have in years past, I spent most evenings this week in cupcake prep. This year we were inspired by our house-reptile Frankie and I made chocolate turtle to top all of the cupcakes. They're not perfect but I think they're cute and I was proud to send them to school with her. More immportantly, she was proud and excited to share them.

For The Birds

2011-05-03T11:02:00.002-05:00

Today's Ten on Tuesday topic is our favorite birds but to be perfectly honest, I'm more of a bird watcher and less of a bird identifier. I can certainly tell the difference between a Blue Jay and a Cardinal and I see both of them around my house but beyond that it's mostly a general joy at seeing birds enjoying the birdhouses and feeders that we've posted all about our property.

Here's one of the birdhouses that Stinkette painted many years ago. It hangs in a breezeway right outside out front door. You wouldn't necessarily think that was the most likely place for birds to live due to the constant foot traffice but it works surprisingly well. In fact, it may be one of the more popular spots. Look closely.

Just below the birdhouse and slightly to the left there is a nest in one of my golden mops. I really can't say how long it was there before I noticed it but I can say that I heard it before I saw it. The birds who live there were raising such a ruckus in there that one day I stopped to see what all the commotion was about and was shocked to find the nest right there under my nose.

And the feathered action around our house isn't limited to the front yard. We've got lots of visitors on and around the deck too. Happily, this year we are seeing more birds and less squirrels around the feeders. That's because this new one really is squirrel-proof. I was worried for a while that it may be bird proof too but little by little its emptying so they must be managing to get the seed.

Unfortunately now the squirrel is eying my strawberries. I'll have to be extra vigilant about that.

Just Like I knew it Would Be

2011-05-02T06:10:00.003-05:00

Have you ever seen a place from a distance, or maybe even read about it, and just knew that you'd love it? I bet most of us have. I have driven over the bridge in the picture below so many times and every time I think that I would love Occoquan and I just have to go there one day. Both the park and the historic town call to me and remind me of the harbors on Long Island.

This Saturday Stinkette attended a birthday party right near Occoquan so I decided to take advantage of proximity and took a short detour into the park. It was a glorious day - warm and sunny and the park was full of people picnicing, launching boats, fishing and so much more. I'm not much for hiking and long walks these days (the humongous belly takes a lot out of a person) but I did walk around a little bit and I will definitely go back. It felt exactly the way I hoped it would and as always I felt so good being near the water.

Thankfully Stinkaroonie had a fabulous time atthe party and may go back to the place where it was held for classes which would give me a wonderful excuse to go exploring in the area. Win - win!

ECF - Patch of Bearded Iris Edition

2011-04-29T10:55:00.001-05:00

Here's a shot of my beloved bearded irises with the ubiquitous dogwood in the background.

Small Victories

2011-04-28T11:56:00.003-05:00

Sometime over the past few weeks I reached the point of overload where a switch was thrown and now I'm finally able to tackle stuff one thing at a time - more or less. Truly there is no other way to go. I refuse to make a to-do list because it would be scary long and depress me. It's inescapable anyway - all rolling around in my head. Instead I just keep plucking one task or another from my mental list and attacking it, then I move on. I'll get to it all eventually.

Stuff on the list includes birthdays (many), elementary school graduation and other end of school year stuff, multi-phase house renovation, school play, softball, field hockey, family events - planning and attending, summer planning. There's more but I can't remember it all right now.

Oh, yes and there's a small and needy person arriving in just over 8 weeks! Truthfully that's the one I'm least prepared for and yet, I'm not worried about the lack of prep at all.

So I'm just plugging away at the list and each item that I can check off is a small victory. Meanwhile things in my area are blooming everwhere. Driving down the street I feel like I'm in a sea of pink. I'll have to take the camera out and show you. There are dogwoods everwhere and some other tree with pink blossoms that is leaving pink petals all over the place. Funny how it doesn't bother me so much when the stuff being tracked into my house is crushed pink petals.

My yard is blooming too. Some things are blooming less than usual but it all looks really healthy so I'm not worried. Then again there are my peopnies that look ready to pop any day and irises and lilies are sprouting everwhere. I'm keeping watch with my camera.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

2011-04-26T09:25:00.005-05:00

Here's a recent picture of my white lilacs. They were just starting to open when I took the picture. I'll have to go back and check out how they're doing now.

Moving on to the topic of the day - 10 ways to save at the grocery store. I'm sure that's something that we're all interested in now that the cost of gas has risen to epic proportions.

Leave Bruce at home - I can't be the only person who has a family member who tends to add stuff that we "need" to the basket whenever you go. For me it's my husband so now he knows better and stays away.

Shop with a list - I find that I do much better when I have a formal list rather than a general feeling of what we need. Sadly, training my family to make the list, or at least to contribute to it rather than telling me what to get while I'm walking out the door is easier said than done.

Use coupons - So simple but such a pain. I do love watching the bill shrink at the end when I use them.

Buy the store brands - but not always. They can be sneaky and I've seen some store brands that are a bit higher than the name brands. Really! Buyer beware.

Don't shop hungry - suddenly you just can't resist those Entenmann's donuts and by the time you get to the check out counter you're explaining why you're buying a half empty box. Fess up - I'm not the only one.

Avoid the cheese counter - this one is an epic fail for me. I just can't resist it. They always seem to be sampling some fabulous brie or delicious cheddar or aged gruyere or.... sigh, it's all delish. Sadly it's all imported and expensive too.

Only buy what you need for sure - I tend to buy veggies and fruits that would be great for dinner or lunch sometime this week but without a specific plan. Then, when my week goes crazy and I have no time at all for a meal at home the food goes bad and it's just wasteful. Shameful really.

Buy the frozen veggies - they're supposed to be better for you anyway and they won't go bad super fast in your freezer.

Stay away from the prepared foods.

Shop faster - it's true that hurrying through the store means that you may forget something but... if you really needed it then you can get it later. On the positive side, the less time you spend in the store the less time you spend getting tempted by stuff that you don't really need.

When Not to Go Camping

2011-04-25T20:06:00.002-05:00

Yes, you read that right... camping. I'd probably say that it's not highly advisable to go when you're 7 months pregnant but I made these plans many months ago when I was feeling like this pregnancy was going to be easy.

I took last Thursday and Friday off to take my daughter's Girl Scout troop camping. Mostly it was fine and I survived but having lot's of great help was the key. Four other mom's and 2 teens (including my DQ) came to assist and they collectively made sure that I did no lifting and, honestly not much beyond providing guidance. I love them.

Sadly they couldn't do anything about the cold and the rain. And there isn't much anyone could do about having to sleep on the floors. Ouch!

Fortunately I was able to spend the subsequent weekend relaxing. I read, I ung out on the deck, I planted stuuf and I napped... a lot! Best of all, DQ and I went to have mani/pedi's. I got a color that I m currently obsessed with, one that's so appropriate for this week - Dating a Royal.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Things You Love About Your Family

2011-04-19T09:42:00.002-05:00

Happy Passover to all who are celebrating. Last night was the first seder and we were fortunate to be invited to a friends house, as we are tonight. Normally I would be hosting the crowds but we are lucky to have good friends who took over and made sure that I wouldn't be taking on too much extra work right now. I love them.

It was a lovely meal and a fun celebration - except maybe the paper "hail" that landed in all of our food and drink. The company was great too and I met new people and reconnect with others. There was a bit of a hiccup though. At one point I was standing and talking in the kitchen. Someone asked about the obvious bump and when I was due. Just then, the mother of a friend of mine interrupted and said that she didn't know I was pregnant - she just thought I was heavy. My friend and I quickly excused ourselves to get a bit of fresh air lest we start laughing on the spot.

I am so thankful that my family usually has the sense not to say such things out loud. That's probably the perfect #1 for my list of things I love about my family.

2. Laughter - I love giggling over silly things like getting caught in the rain with my family. My girls and I can laugh endlessly over the dumbest things.

3. Traditions - I am really big on traditions. My girls are getting older now and we discuss the future a lot. One of the thngs we talk about a lot is how I hope tha the traditions that we've built are important enough for them to carry them on.

4. They are there for us - Sometimes more than others but always in the ways that count. My mother in law's passing has left a huge void and other relatives are already stepping in to try to help us get through it. It means so much.

5. My grandparents - I've said it before but it bears repeating. Not a day goes by without a mention of my grandparents. They are awesome and it means everything to me that my girls and my husband have shared them with me. They may be miles away but they are totally with us.

6. Quirkiness - There is nothing boring about my family. They are always up to something and it keeps life interesting.

7. My girls make me so proud - Every single day I have a reason to look at my girls and feel so proud and happy that they're mine. They are exactly the kind of people I hoped that they'd be.

8. The way we blend - Bruce and I are both children of divorced parents and on his side we were fortunate enough that his mom married a man who loved her dearly and had great kids of his own. It gave Bruce a brother in every sense of the word. I can't imagine life without them. It's such a gift that we have enjoyed such great times together and will for years to come.

9. Family vacations - I remember summers at Lake Champlain with my Canadian cousins and weekends in Pennsylvania with my sister's family. Always such fun.

10. Support - It often seems like our family is a web spread out over the world and no matter what you need, there is someone who can help - with anything.

Layers and Phases

2011-04-18T09:42:00.002-05:00

I can cross one more thing off my lengthy to-do list. We finally bought couches. We ventured out in the torrential rain on Saturday and were rewarded by finding exactly what we were looking for at the first store we stopped at. We had previously been to many, many, other stores and were beginnig to question whether the perfect (for us) couch even existed. Yay! It does and it will arrive well in advance of the Peanut. I am so relieved! Now we just need some pretty pillows and other little details and my space will start coming together. I can also move on to other home related projects - like the super nasty kitchen. But all in good time. One by one it all gets done.

Another thing that is done is my cherry blossom tree's bloom. Sadly, it turns out that I was wrong and those few flowers I showed a while back were the extent of it. Maybe it was the weather that caused fewer blossoms. I don't know. It's not that the tree is in poor health. It's the green leafy one in the foreground of this picture. You can still see a few random flowers here and there and it's very leafy with nice, shiny bark. Behind Yoshi, you can see some white spots. That's the dogwood. It is blooming like crazy. Below are some dogwood flowers that weren't quite fully opened yet.

By the way, the yellow blur is the sign for the play that starts at the High School in just 2 weeks. Once again my girl is running the house so please behave as you're taking your seat. If you're in the area you should definitely go see it. They're doing the Wizard of Oz and there will be monkeys and witches flying. Yes, flying! So cool!

ECF - Andromeda Edition

2011-04-15T08:01:00.002-05:00

There's something so graceful about Andromeda.

A Season of Change

2011-04-11T10:22:00.003-05:00

Can you smell the mulch? Yes, change is in the air everywhere. I believe that this is Peonie foliage. It looks so much nicer now that the wilted and dead remnants of last year's display have been removed. Although the weather continues to behave in a bizarre fashion (Saturday we were bundling up and today it's like summer) it seems clear that Spring is finally on it's way. And that's not the only change. This past weekend Stinkette went to an amusement park and went on roller coasters for the first time. This from my child who, until now, even refused to go on the ferris wheel. My girl is growing up all at once! She's evolving so fast that if you blink you'll miss it. Another sign of change with her is that she's taken up a new sport. Below you can see my red-haired girl at field hockey practice working on turning the ball. She loves it and she seems good at it so far. Apparently this is a sport where aggressive tendencies are a good thing! Of course I'm changing a bit too. It seems like my belly grows daily and my girls are fascinated by it. It's so different this time. With the first two I was just round in general but this time it's like I ate a basketball. So weird! Tiring too. We went to the craft fair and did a little shoppping this weekend and I felt the strain. Good thing that they had seating scattered about because I needed it. In between the rest stops I got a ton of stuff done which makes me feeel so accomplished.

Inspired to Plant

2011-04-07T09:51:00.002-05:00

Last weekend Stinkette and I spent a little time on the deck. I was focused on practical tasks like filing the new, supposedly squirrel-proof, birdfeeder and planting strawberries. Stinkette was beautifying. She was inspired. Last year around this time we went to visit my inlaws in Florida and spent a morning at one of my M-I-L's favorite places - Morikami Gardens. It was so lovely and peaceful. I took lot's of pictures that day like the one below of one of the bonsai. Stinkette was particularly taken with the container gardens and recalls examining them with her grandmother. So when we went to the nursery recently to get seeds for the veggie garden she asked to get supplies for a container garden to remind her of her grandmother and the day. She chose a few flowers, a pot, a little tree, some ground cover and a few props. The results are above. Now she wants to do more.

Peak, What Peak?

2011-04-04T19:41:00.003-05:00

I've reached the point where time really just doesn't seem to be on my side. I've got lot's of stuff to do and few opportunities to get it done. Even worse, not much energy. That's why weekends like this past one feel so damn good! Friday night I went to the theatre with a good friend who had an extra ticket. The play, and Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde was beautiful to look at but very slow. We were a party of 6 but only my friend and I made it to the end. Even so it was such fun to be out in the city. Saturday was errand day. Chaperoning play tech day at the HS, groceries and such. Sunday we did errands of a different sort - examining some of the baby stuff that's been tucked away in the basement and shopping for new stuff. It feels so good to have that done. Makes it a little more real. One thing that we didn't do this weekend was visit the Cherry Blossoms at the tidal basin. Their peak is now past and I missed it for the first time in a while. Never fear though because my tree, Yoshi, is still taking it's time blooming. Most of the branches are filled with buds that look like these. There are also a few flowers to give us a hint of what's in store. I can't wait!

ECF - Reminders of Spring Edition

2011-04-01T11:43:00.002-05:00

Here you go! This is the shot that told me that getting down low for pictures won't be happening again for a few months. Not if I plan to get back up again!

Close...

2011-03-31T14:18:00.002-05:00

I'm still tired and not quite healthy but lately I'm feeling like I need to get back to the stuff I normally do, like gardening and taking pictures. Last weekend I kind of did both. At least I got close. I nailed the pictures part. This is one of my lilac bushes. I promised a friend some progress shots and that was before the winter reared it's ugly head again. Happily I can say that my lilacs continue to sprout leaves and show every intention of flowering soon. As for the gardening I've still got a bit of work to do. Stinkette and I went to the nursery last weekend and bought seeds and strawberry plants and a bunch of other stuff. Now we just need to plant the stuff. Like I said, we got close but we're not quite there yet.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons to Use the Public Library

2011-03-29T11:25:00.003-05:00

You'd think that this would be an easy one for me since I am a librarian and spend all day long surrounded by books. Hmmm...

Because it's way cheaper than buying books.

And because even if you did have the money for it, there isn't enough room on your shelves (or under your bed) to store all the books you'd like to buy.

Because everyone else is doing it!

Because according to the patrons of my library - it's more satisfying to flip the pages of a book back and forth in paper than on an e-reader.

But if you do have an e-reader... they have books for you to rent and use on that too!

Because many libraries have great databases that you can use online in the comfort of your own home.

Because it's quieter there - especially when your neighbor is on round eleventy-billion of noisy home improvement.

Because they even have books on cd there for long car trips and those who have difficulty reading (this last one is really important if the person with the reading disability loves, loves, loves to read books and is on a Harry Potter kick).

Because librarians know stuff! Really!

Beacause you never know other cool stuff you'll find there!

I Thought This Was Spring

2011-03-28T11:38:00.003-05:00

This has been such a weird Spring. A little over a week ago i was out taking pictures of stuff like this. Know what it is? Those are just some of the leaves that will soon transform my backyard into a private little sanctuary very soon. Below is a picture of my yard taken yesterday morning. The white coating on the deck railing is SNOW! When I woke up there was a thin coating of the stuff on my deck and the branches of the trees but by noon it was mostly gone. Translation - my nocturnal teen never saw it at all. Snow is weird this late in March but not terribly upsetting because of this. Those are the buds on Yoshi, the Cherry Blossom tree in my yard. According to people who know, those unopened buds shouldn't be adversely effected by the cold. That's really all I need to know because nothing comes between me and my blossoms.

ECF - Proof Positive Edition

2011-03-18T08:05:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I got a panicked call from my husband. He called to tell me that he had bumped into a table in our living room while vaccuuming and my camera, which I love very much, had fallen on the floor. My macro lens (the most expensive lens in my collection) was attached to it at the time and he was sure that it was broken. Poor Bruce was very afraid of my reaction - not that I'm scary or anything.

Luckily this story has a happy ending. I got home and immediately checked out my camera. When I pulled off the lens cover shattered glass fell out but... it turns out that it was just the UV filter that I keep on the lens to protect it that broke. Not good but certainly not a tradgedy.

I went out right away and took the picture above just to make sure that the lens was still in working order. I think the result speaks for itself. Yay!

By the way, those are my lilacs. Spring is clearly very close.

What the Wind has Wrought

2011-03-17T08:54:00.003-05:00

I'm finally feeling pretty good and I may even have a wee bit more energy, just in time for the third trimester slow down. Sometimes that's just how it goes.

Anyway, I got home yesterday and for once I didn't feel totally exhausted so I grabbed my camera (which was recently cleaned and is perfect once again) and went out to survey the yard. I wanted to get an idea of what spring cleaning would entail so that I could make the appropriate arrangements with our outdoor guy.

It was really nice to get outside and I was a little surprised by what I found. Here was the scene by the basement stairs next to the deck. I guess that the hummingbird feeder blew off the deck in one of our wicked wind storms. The bottom, feeder part looks like it broke off so maybe we'll get a new one. The blue board was part of something else that suffered the same fate. In the picture below you can see the rest of that bird house. It was kind of cute before it got smashed.

I wish the wind had left these alone but neither item was terribly expensive or irreplaceable so it's all fine. I find that I kind of like the pictures of them in their destroyed state.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Favorite Kinds of Pie

2011-03-15T14:13:00.002-05:00

I wasn't going to do the list today. Mostly because I just can't think of 10 pies I love but, now I've got pie on the brain so I'm putting together my abbreviated list so that I can get on with the things tha rightfully ought to be cluttering my brain.

Apple - I prefer mine with an oatmeal crumble top. I simply cannot resist a good apple pie and I've been told that I make a pretty good one too.
Blueberry - My mom says that she only made it once or twice when I was little but the memory of picking blueberries from our neighbors bushes to make pie is so strong that I've planted 4 blueberry bushes around my house in the hope of growing enough to make pie. It's hasn't happened yet but there's always next year.
Cherry - Just yum!
Pumpkin - It just goes perfectly with Thanksgiving.
Key Lime - I can just imagine the wonderful tartness now.
Lemon Chiffon - It can be too sweet sometimes but the occasional small piece is fab.
Pecan - This is actually Bruce's favorite but it's grown on me over the years.
Shoo Fly Pie - I was introduced to it when we went out to Amish county in Pennsylvania many years ago. Good times!

That's it. As I suspected I didn't quite have 10 but I was closer than I thought. Now i really want apple pie in the worst way!

My First Finished Object of 2011!!!

2011-03-09T20:20:00.004-05:00

Are you ready for something surprising? Look, it's actual knitting content! Not just any knitting either - it's a finished object. I may faint from the shock of it.

You'd think that with the ever-increasing amount of resting about the house that I'm doing that I'd be getting lot's of knitting done. In fact, a colleague at work commented on it just the other day. She was shocked when I told her that it had been months since I did any real knitting. Months! I'm kind of surprised too but I'm hopeful that as I slow down, my needles will speed up.

On to my first finished object of 2011. I know it's just a hat, but it's a very nice hat. The pattern is Turn A Square by the deservedly popular Jared Flood and it it perfect. Earlier in this bone-chillingly cold winter, my darling DQ asked for a close fitting hat to keep her warm when she was walking home from the bus. She didn't want anything fancy, just a hat that she could tuck her hair into so it didn't go flying about in the wind.

The pictures here only show her with her hair down but she did test the hat to make sure that she could tuck her hair in and pronounced it perfect. And would you look at how cool the decreases on it are? I just love the symmetry of the square.

Another reason why this project is a win - I used stash yarn. Woot! This was made of KP Merino Style in Storm and Tide Pool. It's so nice and soft. I'll have to find something really good to do with the considerable amount that I have left over because it would be a shame to waste it.

So with all the reasons why this project is wonderful let's not discuss the elephant in the room... the fact that I finished it after the worst of the winter was over. Yes, I finally finished my daughter's desperately needed hat just in time for spring! Not only that but I finished it a week after she bought a hat at the Capitals game.

Moving on... maybe now I can go make her matching mittens in time for the opening of the pool.

Ten Whenever - 10 Favorite Smells

2011-03-09T12:42:00.002-05:00

It probably speaks volumes that I can't seem to get myself together until the latter part of the week these days. Then again, at least I do eventually get myself together. It could be worse.

As I told Carole, I had this post mostly written in my head so, even though it is mo longer Tuesday, here's my list.

Lemons and citrus - So fresh and pleasing
The air after it rains - that's another one that smells fresh.
Baking bread - that warm yeastiness says home
Sauteeing Onions - My mom always said "When in doubt - fry onions" and there is definitely something to it.
Chocolate chip cookies baking - I suppose that anything baking is good if you get right down to it.
A turkey in the oven - one of my very favorite things about Thanksgiving.
A fire burning - this is why people brave the bugs and the other discomforts to go camping. Isn't it?
Satsuma body lotion - divine!
Clean Babies - Yay! I'll be surrounded by baby smell soon.
Strawberries - I just can't resist them when the smell hits me.

Definitely a theme going on with that list. Oh, wait - I forgot mulch. Mulch is one of those weird ones because it's not a good smell per se but I dare you to get a whiff and not think spring. Walking down the street here in the city that smell is everywhere as all the buildings get their exterior spruced up and their pansies planted.

Tune in tomorrow for something truly shocking - but in a good way.

Not Exactly Eye Candy Friday

2011-03-04T09:30:00.002-05:00

I am trying to get back to my regular routines - including semi-regular posting. Sadly I find myself thwarted yet again. This time it's my camera. I think that there's dust in there or something because there are flaws in my pictures. Ugh!

It's ok. I'll go this weekend and get it looked at and all will be well again. Meanwhile I've got a little bit mental eye candy instead of the pictures I originally planned.

Last night I was sitting on the couch watching a show and, as usual, Stinkette was laying in my lap with her head on my belly. Sometimes she talks to it, sometimes she kisses it (awww...), but mostly she rests her head on it waiting to feel something.

The baby was moving around gently for a while and then suddenly it kicked rather hard and Stinkette jumped up with a big smile. She didn't feel it but she says that she heard it. According to her it sounded like a "thump". She was so excited!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons to Like March

2011-03-01T13:38:00.002-05:00

It's March, a transitional month which is very hard to love. There are no Federal Holidays to provide us with long weekends to look forward to. Not many festivals either. The weather is weird and kind of all over the place.

Is it any wonder that we need a little help finding a reason not to stay in bed for the whole month?

And yet, the transitional nature of the month does offer a little bit of promise. Check it out...

St Patricks Day - even if you're like me and only have a wee bit of Irish blood (oh yes I do!) this is one holiday that's hard to resist. All that green! All those adult beverages! And parades! Yay
Growing things - Speaking of green, there are little green shoots hidden all over my yard. Even the dead remnants of last years garden can't completely obscure them.
March Birthdays - My F-I-L, my cousin, and a friend or 2.
Some days the weather will be warm enough to go out without a jacket. Sadly, some will not but it's still progress.
More and more birds will return to the trees in my yard.
Softball season will start for Stinkette
Field hockey season will also start for Stinkette.
Soon it'll be time to sign up for the pool again. True, that means writing out a check but still, isn't it reassuring to know that the pool's opening is just around the corner?
The days will keep getting longer.
By the end of March I will have reached the end of my second trimester. Yikes! I'm sure that by then I will be counting the days until the inhabitant is evicted.

Care to add to my list?

Quick weekend

2011-02-27T22:11:00.003-05:00

Time really does fly.

This weekend started with my family attending what is probably our only hockey game of the season... and wishing desperately that it would end fast. Great seats - lousy game. What can I say?

Happily the rest of the weekend was much better. Manicures with my favorite teen. Attending Thinking Day with my favorite red-head's GS troop. All very awesome things.

Returning

2011-02-24T10:01:00.002-05:00

We returned from the funeral in NY over the weekend and I immediately noticed that, although there is still snow on the ground here and there, my lilacs have buds. How about that! I planted 2 lilac bushes in front of our house a number of years ago because they were a favorite of my Mother-in-law and now they're here to welcome us home and remind us that Spring really is coming.

Anyway, I've taken a little extra time to return to the blog and most other things. The last month would take a lot out of anyone but when you're old and very pregnant it's even more challenging. It's really good to be getting back to things again though. After living with uncertainty and dread for so long it feels like a fog has lifted. We're all still getting ourselves together and it'll be a long road but we're getting there.

Last night the girls and I shared a really good laugh. The kind where your eyes tear and you turn red in the face. It was such a stupid thing and Bruce stood there looking at us like we were nuts but it was awesome. Like the lilacs it was a sign that things are headed in the right direction and good things are ahead.

I thank you all for the good thoughts. It feels so good to know that people are thinking of you.

Barbara Miller - 2.14.2011

2011-02-14T22:13:00.003-05:00

Today my mother-in-law lost her long battle with cancer.

I prefer to remember her like this, in happier times.

ECF - Big and Pink Edition

2011-02-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

I saw this in the courtyard of the hotel that we stayed at and I couldn't resist.

Beachy Interlude

2011-02-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, we managed to have a ittle fun in the sun in Florida. On Monday we went to see Bruce's aunt... at her beachside apartment. We talked about all that is going on and enjoyed the beach a little.

I thought I'd share the beach part with you starting with the view from the apartment.

Of course we got a bit closer too. Look at those waves! DQ really wanted to jump in.

Sadly we didn't get to go in and frolic in the waves because there were creatures hiding in there.

Portuguese Man O' War!

Not good swimming buddies but very cool to look at.

Balancing Acts

2011-02-09T09:33:00.004-05:00

We're home again after a hastily planned trip to Florida. I wish I could say that it was an impromptu vacation but it wasn't. We went to squeeze in just a little more time with my M-I-L. She talked to each of my girls and my husband privately and they said what needed to be said. Mostly we sat around talking about better times and looking at old pictures.

It was a really hard trip and it could have been overwhelmingly sad if not for serendipity in the form of other relatives who were in town at the same time. I am so thankful for them.

We saw my Aunt and Uncle from Canada who winter in Florida. They're always fun and we don't get to see them nearly enough. Bruce's step-mother was in town visiting her friends and we enjoyed breakfast with her on her birthday. We also saw Bruce's sister and step-brother who were in town for the same reason we were.

Balancing the sadness with better times is what get's you through so it helps when a trip like this takes you away from the bitter cold to weather where it's warm enough to swim. Spending a while in an airport is good too. The people watching is fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the wome who looked like she was wearing a big, puffy, croissant on her head... until she turned out to have the seat right in front of Stinkette who stifled giggles through the whole ride.

Best of all was DQ's ride home. She wound up seated between an elderly woman who thought my girl was lovely because she helped her open her snack and a guy who looked like a football player. He was in his mid to late 20's and chatted with DQ all the way home about life and how he was an event planner and could get her into parties the next time she was in Florida. I'm guessing he never imagined that his seatmate was 15! Thankfully my girl has a good head on her shoulders and told him that she doen't have access to FB.

Transitional

2011-02-03T10:53:00.002-05:00

It's been a really challenging week. I'm still trying really hard to avoid stress but it's finding me anyway. Sometimes it's unavoidable.

There is no knitting at all to report. How sad is it when you can't even get a silly little hat done? Ugh!

It's kind of a weird time because things are changing rapidly. Situations are resolving themselves, and not all for the better. Still, resolution of any sort can be a relief.

I really can't wait for Spring to come. It'll be so nice to see the first buds on the trees and know that the ice is behind us.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things on my Nightstand

2011-02-01T13:23:00.003-05:00

Ugh! If you could only see my nightstand. It is so covered with stuff.

My alarm clock - which was making weird noises this morning. It's a shame because it's really cute and egg shaped and I'd hate to have to get a new one.
Tums - Always
Random Receipts - somehow when I pull them out of my pockets this is where they collect.
A glass of water - everyone in my house except for Bruce has one.
The Handmade Ceramic Dish one of my daughters made for me
Various rings, earrings etc - in #5
My hairspray - It's just more convenient to have it there than in the bathroom
My headbands - again, it's a matter of convenience
My brush - can't use #7 & #8 without it.
My autographed copy of Bridge to Terrabithia by Katherine Paterson