14 months!

"Well I have a thing to tell you and it won't take long. The way I feel about it is a kind of a song...." - Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton.



I just got used to saying you were 13 months, and you are already 14 months!! Somehow, you keep getting cuter and cuter. It's amazing to see your little grey cells start to make sense of your world - you can follow simple directions like picking things up, knocking on the door, closing the door and you're able to communicate when you're hungry or thirsty. You use the "more" sign for everything, even though I try and show you please, thank you, eat, drink and help at every chance! Our days are spent roaming around the house, looking at pictures, reading books, babbling "dah-dee, dah-gee" - I can't wait to hear "mommy" or even "up" or "yes". I know it's coming.



You have the greatest power to melt our hearts when you give hugs and kisses - especially when they come spontaneously from you.



I'm still in awe.

Fuzzy little snuggly puppy, I love you!

January 101 Update

(back on track with January!)

--------------------------------------------------
Original post here. Updates: January, February, March, June, July, August
, September / October, December.
---------------------------------------------------
I like a challenge. I love lists. I think this sort of list would be good to help me keep some focus (on me) now that the bulk of my focus is on my family. This list has been inspired by my family, friends, and the other lists in blogs I read...

Day Zero, Home of 101/1001 Project
The Mission
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My List
Start date : 01 January 2008
End date : 28 September 2010

Key
Not yet started
In progress
Complete

1. Fill the large collage photo frames. (1/3)
2. Hang the photo-filled large collage photo frames (1/3)
3. Declutter: sell or give-away 101 material items I own (54/101)
-yarn, -clothes -books -house items
4. Learn to use the drop spindle. Completed: 3/11/08
5. Make enough yarn on the drop spindle to make a hat.
6. Learn to crochet. Completed: 8/30/08
7. Use crochet to make a simple amigurumi character.
8. Open a savings account for Lorelai and save $250 (250/250) Complete: 5/17/08
9. See 10 movies in the movie theater (5/10)
**1)Sex & The City
**2)Hancock
**3)The Dark Knight
**4)Mamma Mia
**5) Quantum of Solace
10. Submit my resume to the new science museum. Completed: 2/28/08
11. Attend a sheep and wool festival in CT
12. Go to the local farmer's market 15 times (4/15)
13. Submit photos to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
14. Submit knitted objects to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
15. Photograph Lorelai on the 30th of each month (14/33)
16. Cook one new recipe a month (13/33)
**"Chicken Bruschetta Bake" from the Stove Top Stuffing Mix Box. Just ok.**
**"Curried Lamb" from Woman's Day Magazine, crock-pot recipe. Bland.**
**"Stuffed Pepper Soup" copycat recipe of 99 restuarant recipe. Burnt the soup. Ick.**
**Turkey & Brocolli Casserole thing from Taste Of Home Magazine. Not bad.
**Mini Lamb Burgers with Couscous Salad from Real Simple - Delish!
**Baked Mac-n-Cheese with Chicken Sausage from "6 o'clock Scramble" online - yummy!
**Blueberry Cake from Cooking Light - ok, but all the blueberries sank to the bottom!
**Chrispy Chicken Romaine Salad - back of the bread crumb box - ok
**Blueberry Crumb Bars - not bad.
**Cranberry sauce - yum!
**Chai Spice Girl Cookies - pretty good
**Giada's Peppers stuffed with Orzo - not bad
**Honey-Mango Chicken from MaryJanesFarm Magazine - mild / ok
17. Drink 2-3 Liters of water a day.
18. Write a letter to Koji and Noriko to tell them about Lorelai.
19. Knit a sweater for me that fits and I love. Glee!
20. Knit 30 socks (15 pairs) (9/30)
**Bartholomew's Sock #1 done 1/21/08**
**Bartholomew's Sock #2 done 2/4/08**
**Lenore Socks #1 & #2 done in 10 days! 2/14/08**
**Two wee socks (one for the wee sock swap) 3/30/08**
**Tidal Wave Sock #1 done 5/25/08**
**Sanrio Socks #1 & #2 done 9/30/08**
21. I want to make the “Heirloom Ring Blanket” for my mom. Deadline: December 2008.
22. Sign Up for the 100 Push Up Challenge
23. Complete the 100 push-up challenge: initial test, Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
24. Update the blog once a week for a year. (13/52)
25. Go to four dachshund meet-ups. (2/4)
26. Make updated moo cards. Completed 10/15/2008
27. Make my own granola.
28. Get a routine physical with an internist. Completed 8/5/08
29. Get a body scan to check on the freckles / moles.Scheduled for Feb. '09
30. Go to the dentist twice a year (2/6)
31. Start doing yoga once a week, build up to three times a week.
32. Take Jackson for a walk daily, weather permitting. (Let's face it, he's a dachshund and doesn't fare well in cold, wet, or snow)
33. Save $1 for every item completed from this list.
34. Sew a pair of pajama pants.
35. Read 10 books. (10/10)
**1) The Good Good Pig
**2) The Memory Keeper's Daughter
**3) The Tender Bar
**4) You're Not You
**5) Water for Elephants
**6) Diary
**7) The Know-it-all
**8) Prince Caspian
**9) Smotherhood
**10) Redstripe
**11) In Defense of Food
**12) Garbage Land
36. Create a coordinated Halloween costume for Lorelai and Jackson. Complete 10/31/2008
37. I'm going to allow myself to purchase yarn with the condition that an equal (or greater) amount leaves the house.
38. Clean out and organize the junk drawers in the kitchen (2/2) Complete: 6/29/08
39. Write recipes on recipe cards as needed. No more torn out from magazine papers!
40. Send the grandparents a card / Lorelai photo once a month (9/33)
41. Post an Update of my 101 each month (9/33)
42. Grow plant / veggie garden from seed.
43. Grow 3 "new to me" plants / veggies each year (3/9)
**1) Broccoli
**2) Peas
**3) Corn
44. Give blood once a year. (0/3)
45. Read "The Killer Angels".
46. Try out peapod or other online grocery service.Complete: 1/2/08
47. Try out g-diapers.
48. Clean out email inbox and maintain so there's never more than 100 messages in there at a time.
49. Get a professional portrait of Lorelai. Adorable.
50. Buy 5 gifts from etsy.com each year (3/15)
**PrettyInPosies hair clips for Lorelai**
**Gift for Dan**
**Gift for a secret pal swap**
51. Clean out / organize the bloglines reader to remove blogs unupdated / uninteresting / topics /etc. once each year (1/3) 12/30/08 switched to Google Reader
52. Get back in shape to fit into my regular non-maternity clothes. All the maternity clothes are put away!
53. Bring old maternity clothes and newborn clothes to Beyond the Stork. Donated or put away
54. Replace the lights along the front walk. Complete: 6/8/08
55. Get back to at least my prepregnancy weight (minus an extra 5 - 7 pounds)
**As of 1/11/08 I'm down 28 pounds! 13 more to go to get to pre-preg.wt**
**11/4/2008 another 8 pounds to go.** 1/27/09 I'm within 5 pounds. Close enough.
56. Buy a scale to keep an eye on #55.Complete: 1/15/08
58. Complete 20 projects using stash yarn (9/20)
**1) Snowman Hat **2)Bunny Cozies **3)Batman Hat **4)rattles **5)Abby's Hat **6)Abby's Mitts **7)Turn a Square Hat **8)Turn a Square, Squared **9) Lorelai's Mitts
59. Knit 30 baby hats for charity, donate in Lorelai's name. (4/30)
60. Make my own sushi.
61. Make photocards for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving on home computer.
62. See a Broadway show.Complete: 5/3/08 Macbeth
63. Visit New York City.Complete: 5/3/08
64. Snorkel in the British Virgin Islands.Complete: 4/22/08
66. Host a holiday dinner for the family at least once a year. (1/3) Easter '08
67. Garden indoors with the AeroGarden, maintain the water and nutrients.
68. Get a bikini wax.
69. Vote for president. Completed 11/4/2008
70. Listen to 8 audio-books. (3/8)
**1) Microthrills by Wendy Spero
**2) The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
**3) Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
71. Get my first tattoo
72. Go back to church
73. Knit three projects from each knitting book I own.
**Itty Bitty Hats a)Snowman Hat b)Bunny Tails Hat c)Upside-Down Daisy
**Mason-Dixon Knitting a)Baby Genius Burp Cloth
**Mason-Dixon Book 2 a)Toto potholder
**One Skein Wonders a)Flap Hat
**Natural Knits for Babies & Mom a)Lorelai's Mitts, b)Amelie "dress"
74. Join a local mom+baby group.
75. Copy the phone numbers in my cell phone into my paper address book.
76. Reinstall itunes.Complete: 1/3/2008
78. See if the nerds / geeks can rescue the data from the Dell hard drive.
79. Get back on birth control. completed 1/13/08
81. Sort through the boxes brought home from school.
82. Fully update stash on ravelry.
83. Fully update books on ravelry.
84. Fully update needles on ravelry.
85. Set up an etsy shop. Complete: 6/27/08
86. Sell 25 items from etsy shop. (2/25)
87. Get a table / space at a local craft fair. Completed 10/18/2008
88. Knit Dan & Virginia's wedding afghan. Deadline: June 2009.
89. Knit afghan for me!
90. Re-read 10 books that I read when I was in grades 6 - 8. (2/10)
**1) Little House on the Prairie
**2) Starring Sally J Freedman, as herself.
91. Purchase a TerraPass / CO2 offset for my car / home / acrylic knitting.
94. Use the canvas / knit bags not plastic when shopping. This is a full time habit now
95. Try sign language with Lorelai - 5 signs (4/5) **1) More (we're working on Help, Thank You, and Drink)
96. Come in second in the fantasy football league. OMG, don't want to jinx it but as of 11/4/08 I'm #1! I won!!!
98. Eat vegetarian for a week.
99. Learn to make pancakes.
100. Eat out at 5 new restaurants (5/5)
**The Time Out Tavern, Durham, CT
**The New Deal Steakplace, Westbrook, CT
**Mia Dona, New York City
**Nellie Green, Branford, CT
**Miso, New Haven, CT
**Tuscany Grill, Middletown, CT
101. Smile everyday. Be a good example / role model for my daughter. Be a good wife to my husband.

Replacements:
97. Knit 52 Hats in a year.
93. Knit 100 balls of yarn this year. A "ball" is considered finished when I have less than 50 yards leftover (starting with the Ruling in February)
92. Knit something for the in-laws (0/3)
77. Update the will to reflect guardianship for Lorelai, just in case.

Still undecided about what to replace these with.
80. Write a letter a month (2/33)
65. Try 10 recipes from Alton Brown's "Good Eats" (0/10)
57. Rediscover my yarn stash - pair up 20 new projects with stash yarn. (8/20)

Cocoa Swap - Received!

My pal, Ariel, was completely on top of things for this swap - I got my package tonight and OMG, it rocks!


How can you look at that little frog on not smile?! He is the perfect "Blah Buster" - He's also a great shade of green and soft! The mug, which reads "Knitting Queen.....Becca" is a good size, nice handle and notice where the design is - perfect for a lefty to pick up to drink and still see the design. There's also a really cute little lady bug that trails away from my name just opposite the handle. Very cute.


Sweets and treats - Jelly Bellys (flavors I've not yet tried but look forward to busting into tonight as I work on the CPH!), Nerds and a Wonka Chocolate Tinglies (I bet they are like pop rocks!), also Hot Chocolate, recipes and truffles. Yummy! A new cable needle (going right into my newly organized notions bag!), a Lefty pencil and a "Lefties Will Rule the World" ruler - awesome!!


Malabrigo sock. OMG. I've never seen this color, Solis - it's the perfect shades of blue. The sock marathon is gearing up to start on sunday and I do believe I shall start with this.

I was completely spoiled by Ariel and enjoyed being her pal! Thank you!!

Notions

For a while I started to notice that my notions bag full of knitting tools was becoming crowded. There was so much random stuff in there. Today I finally dumped it out. (Photo taken after the sorting of all the stuff).

Not surprisingly, there's paper, pens, stitch markers, lip balm, my kitchener dog tags, ruler, stitch holders, trash and random yarn labels. There are yarn-bobbin holders and pom-pom makers (I think that's what those blue / pink circles are for). Missing are scissors (usually there's 2 pair), and my chibi needle case - Lorelai took it because it makes a great noise and now I don't know where it is. And my tape measurers (also usually 2) are both elsewhere.

I'm going to give up my standard notions bag for a while (striped old navy cosmetics bag I've used since I started knitting back in 2001!) and instead use the snoopy bag that was part of the Woodstock WoolGirl kit.



I think my hands have relaxed from the seaming on the CPH - on to picking up for the hood~!

Blurry vision

IMG_7082
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

Must be from staring so hard at the seams. More likely it's trying to take a photo without the flash.

Anyway, my Central Park Hoodie is so close to being done - I may actually have it done for this weekend as I hoped!! Inspired by Pixisis, I used single crochet for all my seams - awesome. It took a bit to get used to and my hand feels a little cramped, but it was faster in the end. Some of the seams are a little bumpy in spots, but I think blocking may help. I'm so excited that the sweater fits!! Fantastic!

Mittens!

In the past few weeks it's been, pardon my New England, wicked cold here. So cold that I get all chicken about going out into the cold with the Lorax. She's got a great hat and is all bundled up when we go out, but she didn't have any mittens. I improvised once and stuck socks on her (hopefully she won't look back on that as a "bad mommy" moment).

I made her the largest size mittens (12 months / 6.75") from the Natural Knits for Babies and Moms book - the yarn is the untagged find from a Farmhouse Yarn bin sale. It's leftover from the flap hat / fingerless mitt set I made my cousin for Christmas. Purpley-black, great to match Lorelai's hat and jacket.




She might be ready for thumbs though, she knows how to get these mitts off!

Something is not right.

Figures. I profess my love for cables and they turn on me (pun intended. Groan.)

After yesterday I was a bit at a standstill with my projects. I need to block the pieces of the Central Park Hoodie (hopefully today), I finished one mitten and it's a pay attention sort of pattern (not the best for SnB), I'm waiting for Feb.1 & the LimeNViolet sock marathon to start before doing anything with sock yarn (though it would be no surprise to anyone who knows me that I have a HUGE list of socks I want to knit, plus the ipod mitts that were on the Chum. It was almost time for SnB and I needed a project.

I rediscovered some cashmere Dan gave me and thought it would be a treat for me to knit up an Evangeline Cowl - I have long admired the fingerless mitts and think the cowl is gorgeous. Plus, cashmere makes everything better - and the pattern (even with the pay-attention-cables) with the yarn at SnB would be ok.

In the hours I was at SnB I made it through 10 rows. And it's not good.

It's all me, it's no fault of the pattern or the yarn. I'm a lefty. When I knit cables, I know I need to hold the needle in back when instructed to hold in front and vice versa. Big Cables apparently are ok.

(Cable Close-Up)

It's the little cables in the middle that throw me. Some of these were one stitch on the cable needle / hold in front or back and purled. That's where it's not working. I suppose I could just do a little swatch and play with it. I should do that. I had started a sweater for Lorelai (Ziggy - ravelry link) back in June and stopped because the same thing happened. The cables were not looking right. There are too many cables I want to knit!!

Hat & Hoodie

Finally, I can blog about the hoodie project I worked on for LornasLaces - did you know they are expanding their colors to the Green Line - that's their organic merino wool. I was provided with some of the worsted weight in the "Beverly" colorway, which is just stunning! It was great shades of blue-grey-green. It was wonderful to work with - the sample I knit for them the "Little Cable Hoodie" by Gardiner Yarn Works (details on my ravelry project page) What a fantastic pattern! I love love love this pattern and will make it again, as I was very sad to ship this off. On to the photos!







I was a bit stressed about sewing in the zipper. It really wasn't bad once I got going on it - however, I did make a bonehead mistake. I bought an "all purpose" zipper, not realizing I should pay attention to the zipper style - so I had carefully sewn in a bag style zipper and I needed a jacket style zipper. In the end, not a big deal, and I have learned my lesson.

A few more close-ups:


I'm noticing a trend lately - seems like most of the projects I've got on the needles or recently finished involve cables in some form. Love them. 2009, the year of the cable.

I finished up a Capitan Hat, (my ravelry details)

Cute. I'm already wearing it now and plan to for the rest of the day (I have hat head hair. oh well). It's warm and I really like the yarn I used - Berroco Cuzco - so wonderfully squishy!

My favorite part aside from a)This is a really quick knit, b)Uses less than one skein of yarn, c)has cables - is the buttons!

Coconut buttons, found with the yarn (on separate occasions!) at The Yarn Basket.

So, that makes Hat #4 in the 52 Hat Challenge and 1 more ball of yarn used up. I need to go back and check on the # of balls out of 100 I've done. I've decided that the ball will be considered "used up" if I have less than 50 yards of yarn left over.

Obama, baby!

It's a big day - even Lorelai knew it - she only turned the tv off once this whole morning. She won't remember this, and Obama as president is likely to be a fuzzy memory at best... but it's documented. She watched the inauguration with me!

Singing along with Aretha.


VP Biden taking the oath.


President Obama!


Ready to rule, Yes We Can!

Cocoa Swap Recipe Assignment

Today is a really good day for Hot Chocolate, I think. Especially now - it's later on in the afternoon, the sun is not out at all, there's lots of clouds - everything is snow covered from the latest snowfalls... The Cocoa Swap "assignment" for the week is to post a hot chocolate recipe. Generally I just use the packets from the store, so I don't have much in the way of a recipe to share... but I went googling and I found several things I would like to try!

I really would like to make my own marshmallows - FamilyFun Recipe, AltonBrown's Recipe and of course, MarthaStewart's Recipe. Might as well give Martha's Hot Chocolate a go too!

How cute is this Hot Chocolate Mug Cake?!

Isn't this Hot Chocolate Jug nifty?

MaryJanesFarm - my new favorite magazine

I admit, I have a magazine issue (eye roll for the pun.) For years I would buy all kinds of magazines - BUST, Bitch, Cosmo, Glamour etc - all of them. Then I started to get fed up with Cosmo and Glamour and the like. So I dropped those but found others - Real Simple, Martha Stewart... assorted cooking magazines. Home and garden style magazines. Organic magazines. Craft magazines. Knitting magazines. Health / fitness magazines. Pregnancy magazines. Parenting magazines. Dog magazines.

For a while I've been good - I've been keeping track of what I have, what I like, and either cancelling subscriptions when I realize that a magazine is pure trash or not renewing if I find I'm just not getting anything out of the magazine any more. I'm also better about saving stuff from the magazine for my idea file - I tear out the page (craft / cooking / health / shopping / etc) and stuff it in a file folder and the magazine goes into the recycle bin right away.

Last night after SnB I popped into the bookstore. That can be dangerous for me - they have so many more magazines! I was very good though and only bought one because I was so excited to see it (didn't know such a thing existed!)
MaryJanesFarm magazine - farmgirls!!


This issue has the overall theme of "Simply Bee - the Spirit of the Beehive" and I have to say I love it! I love the feel of the paper, I love the way it's laid out, I love the informative articles (Why are the bees disappearing? Natural Sweetners! Recycle felted sweaters!). I love the quotations throughout. I like the ads.
I think I'm going to subscribe...

Links I love (found in the issue)
**CTHoney.com - local honey, Bees without Borders
**Schoolgardenco.com - natural bodycare products, profits go to schools
**Sweetpoison.com - Aspartame dangers
**There's a brief story that makes me want to make a hexagon quilt

Thinking...

It's been a long (and short week). Betsy is in town, so we went out on Tuesday for a Yarn Crawl. We shop very differently than we used to - I think it's our experience now (and budgets, whatever.)

Our first stop was to Sit'n Knit in Wethersfield - we especially love "The Bridge" - though we didn't have any real finds for what we were looking for. I picked up a skein of yarn needed for my Cocoa Swap Pal and that was it. We moved down to the shoreline to go to Saybrook Yarn - saw plenty there that I liked and picked up multiple times, but I held back. I had a gift certificate to Madison Wool - love love love that shop! Michelle, the owner, is so sweet and friendly. And she has more yarns from those smaller farms (local and New England-wide) - fantastic! I used my gift certificate to pick up two skeins of Catalina baby alpaca (OMG, it's so soft!) that will be made into a neckwarmer for me. I also was won over by this:
Jarbo Garn Duo"

It's acrylic, but a very nice soft not squeaky acrylic! 300+ yards, $10 a skein!! That caught my eye and then while pondering what I could make with it, we spotted a shop sample for a knit jacket - the actual pattern for it is not all that great - in that the pattern / colors don't really show the sweater jacket, but the sample knit up a variegated yarn / no pockets / cute toggles / looks really great. I was good and swatched.

I was thinking about it last night though, and I'm hesitant about making the jacket. I don't know that I'm really going to wear it - I just think it's going to be way too bulky / boxy for me. I'm sitting on it for the moment. I have let my eye wander about on ravelry for a sweater or pullover that I could use. But wonder still about the color.... Brown Betty, Buttony... opinions welcome....

For Christmas Dan bought the Lorax and I sheep shirts - mine is long sleeved with the design on and L's we put on her yesterday -

It's from Cabled Sheep - cute, right?

Stay warm today! I'm planning on not leaving the house - it's too cold, especially with a little one. It would be fantastic if I could get the sleeves for my CPH done.

Cocoa Swap Scavenger Hunt

(I'm totally avoiding my work right now. Just saying.)

Scavenger Hunt! I love this sort of thing!

1. Who wants to try plant fibers? Emily

2. Who wants to learn to crochet? Michelle

3. Who collects yarn? Penny

4. Who loves yellow? Alicia

5. Who doesn’t like fruit flavors? Jenn

6. Who loves Malabrigo (who doesn’t??? hahaha) ? Michelle

7. Who has one mitt to go to finish her Endpaper Mitts? Elizabeth

8. Who’s favorite animal is a dog? Alicia

9. Who likes to paint? Kathy)

10. Who has too many stitch markers? Ariel

11. Who likes Bailey’s in their cocoa? Becca

12. Who likes Starbucks salted caramel cocoa? Darcy

13. Who can’t stand vanilla flavored cocoa? Channon

14. Who’s favorite animal is a hedgehog? Ariel

15. Who might stab themselves over Neon Yarn? Laurie

16. Who’s oldest UFO is at least 15 years old? Kate

17. Who likes crystallized ginger? Chelle

18. Who likes whipped cream in their cocoa? Mary Lynn

19. Who likes marshmallow fluff in their cocoa? Becca

20. Who needs stitch holders? Holly

Handknits in Action

Quickly, I finished a hat today (so that's #3 for the 52 hat challenge and two more balls done for the 100 ball challenge and one less WIP on the shelf.) - It was for Hat Attack back in the Fall of 2008. I withdrew because I just couldn't get going on this. And it's done. I don't really love it, but it's very warm, and will match my coat.

Meh. I don't really feel like talking much else about this hat.

I'd rather share the photos from today when the Lorax and I got some fresh air. She's doing better with her walking (even if she's a bit wobbly) - it was sunny out, so I bundled her up and we were outside soaking up the sun for about 10 minutes, just walking up and down the driveway.



(She's still wearing the hat! Yay! Though, I think she did a near faceplant right after I took this photo...)


My point of view.


Odd shot, but she was kindof balancing on one leg and laughing.

Name that Tune (If you can hum it)

This is tough. I'm totally copying theatreknitter - and also avoiding any housework.

The game goes like this:

1. Grab your iPod or other MP3 player and randomize your songs.
2. Type the first line/phrase of the first 20-40 songs that come up (you can skip one if the first line is, say, the actual title of the song).
3. Anyone can try and guess the title of the song by commenting on this note.
4. When the title has been guessed, bold out the lyric and add the name of the person who guessed it.
5. NO cheating by using search engines to find answers.

1. I am a blessing manifested
2. She takes the blame / she covers the shame / removes the stain / it could be her name
3. I pulled out with the mountain laurel blooming / on a dirt road that is soon to be paved
4. What moon songs / do you sing your babies
5. six a.m. / day after christmas
6. it wasn't long before I lived with her / I sang her songs while she dyed my hair
7. I say my hell is the closet I'm stuck inside / can't see the light
8. Nothing so loud / as hearing when we lie / truth is not kind / and you've said neither am I
9. New York City / Center of the Universe
10. Sleeping through the evening / seeing dreams inside my head / I'm heading out / I've got some ins who say they care

11. In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
12. I was doin' nothing special after 11 / oh we learned some tunes and wrote some songs
13. Go to Fred Segal / you'll find them there / Laughing loud so all the people stare
14. sarcastic mister know it all
15. There's gotta be a record of you somewhere / You gotta be on somebody's books
16. I was on the outside when you said / You said you needed me / I was looking at myself / I was blind / I couldn't see
17. There are places I remember / All my life though some have changed
18. I never loved nobody fully / always one foot on the ground
19. I like the way that they walk / And it's chill to hear them talk
20. I seek to understand me / All of my impurities and evils yet unknown

21. In these days and these hours of fury / When the darkness and answers are thin /
Lovers come and check out in a hurry / Shallow and hollow again
22. He’s been waiting around for the weekend / Figuring which club to sneak in
23. I am walking / out in the rain / and I am listening to the low moan / of the dial tone again (Bets, she may be to me what Alanis is to you)
24. Way down here you need a reason to move
25. I'm doin' this tonight / You're probably gonna start a fight / I know this can't be right.
26. All that phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
27. They stand in the way of love / And we will smoke them all / With an intellect and a savoir-faire
28. Woke up cold one Tuesday / I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick
29. Who can be the boss? / Look up to the cross / Stranded in the land of the lost / Standin up, I'm sideways

30. Well youre the real tough cookie with the long history
31. Her face is a map of the world
32. I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
33. I can’t help my feelings / I’ll go out of my mind.
34. Take 'em out the hood / Keep 'em looking good
35. We'd hit the bottom / I thought it was my fault / And in a way I guess it was
36. I could see the city light / Wind was blowing, time stood still
37. This is morning / That's when I spend the most time / Thinking 'bout what I've given up]
38. The bravest thing I've ever done / was to run away and hide / but not this time
39. I'm not aware of too many things / I know what I know if you know what I mean
40. It's just one of the days / when you don't wanna wake up

Dude. I so want to go on a road trip and just blare the radio.
I'm off to update my ipod now so I can have my own sing along on the way to SnB tonight.

Did you resolve to participate more?

Active Participation has always been a challenge to me. I'm a generally quiet person, I was a quiet kid, I was a quiet student. In college I had to force myself to participate - I still have my notebooks where I would mark the top of the page with a check mark each time I participated in class.

As a general rule, I tend to avoid talking politics. Admittedly I really don't have a good handle of what my state is even up to. I don't watch CSPAN, I don't pay attention to the propositions or local votes. But I've read about the "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" on many blogs that I respect and this one bothers me enough to post about it.

If you are a crafter of anything that children might use this needs your attention. This act is a good idea in theory, but in reality is going to impact millions of crafters, etsy people, thrift stores and so on. I started an etsy shop last fall and in order to comply with the rules I'm going to have to remove my rattles and washcloths (or market them as Art or for adults only). Ridiculous.

I'm going to refer you to the other blogs that word it better than I can, and I encourage you to write you senators / representatives. The sites have form letters already set up - you can email or print them out and send them (while I am trying to use less paper, I do think this is important enough to send a letter. It's worth the $0.41. really.) Please, please, please.

*Heads Up: CPSIA vs Crafters from the chum
*CPSIA from Dyeabolical Yarns blog **This is the one through which I linked to the letters I'm sending out. Easy as pie.
*Save Handmade! - also has a form letter to use.
*DragonMadKnitter - read the example about the Judy's Baby Binkies.

Remember how good we all felt back in November when we got out there to vote, and participate, and when we won? We were all part of something exciting? Let's do it again.

Two Tops

It's so icky out today - I tried to "shovel" the front walk a bit and it really was just pushing slushy water to the side. Weather reports say snow is coming maybe tomorrow and later on in the week / weekend so maybe I'll actually get a proper action shot of Lorelai in her newest hat.

Toasty Topper - knit with Ella Rae Classic in a purple-grey color, it's quite warm and even seems snug on her head - it did stay on when she pulled at it (mostly). If she's distracted by the snow / cold / wind it just might work.

Look at that she already knows how to pose.


This is my head. Or, Mom, why am I wearing a hat inside?

Costume Change!

"Amelie" is finally done. I bought the yarn and book for this project back in December 2007, Lorelai was weeks old. I planned to make the 6 month size, figuring I would be done before she outgrew it. I just made it. She's 13+ months now and can wear this as a top I think.



This FO doesn't count in any of my yardage counts - it's been finished with the knit part for a long while - just needed the buttons. And the hat (while it counts for yardage) only used up ~0.8 of the skein so I'm trying to decide if I will count that as a ball used up or not. It does count towards a new challenge I've got. Hats.

So, I'm challenging myself (not Knitting A Long with anyone. Challenging myself, there is a difference) to the following:
Knit 100 balls from the stash (so far: 1 / 100 unless I decide the Topper hat counts)
Participate in the LimeNViolet 2009 Sock Marathon (Goal: Knit 2 miles, starts in February.)
52 Hat Challenge (so far: 2 / 52)

I've got my own little cheerleader, how bad could it be?

Mugs

One of the questions on the Cocoa Swap Q & A is about the type of mug you like. That made me think about my favorite mug and what makes it so. I don't have just one favorite mug, I have 6.

So, here we have the Starbucks Cabled Mug - it's knitting! So of course I love it. Also, it has a bigger handle, love that. The crayola mug is a souvenir from our trip in 2007 to the Crayola Factory - I love that the design wraps around the mug. Being left handed, when I hold a mug I often can't see the design because they are made for right handed people! Righties can pick up their mug and see the design as they sip, not so easy for me! The Carpe-Yarn-em mug was a swap gift a few years ago and is frequently used as well. Wrap around design (there's yarn pictures on the other side).


The Rainforest Cafe mug I got when I spent the summer in Grand Forks, ND. This mug is a big one, thicker than the others, big handle. Rainforest frogs are one of my favorite animals, so this mug had to come home with me. The Sheep & Yarn mug I bought at Rhinebeck this year - it's fantastic - good size, good handle, wrap around design! And the Cheerios mug came as part of a set (with a big bowl for the cereal) - I'm not a huge yellow fan, but I love Cheerios (always have, always will). Thick (but roomy) handle, slightly thicker mug, but too much.

Now I'm thinking about other mugs and went hunting online. Look, a bracelet!, Science mug!, Gilmore Girls Mugs (I had a cafe press mug a long time ago back when the estrov2 boards were up and running - good quality, good size, sadly it was left behind in a move)...amigurumi mug too cute!, Vintage monogrammed with "R" (perfect! but I bet they are a thinner mug. I like the look of them though.) so cool!, just mugs (Must check out this store next trip to NYC!)...

One more mug:

Somebody got a haircut yesterday - she sat still and was so serious the entire time. Then in the car on the way home she kept saying what sounded like "Hiiiiiiiiiii" to her reflection in the mirror.

Cocoa Swap Questionnaire

Questionnaire for the Cocoa Swap - I've already heard from my pal! Looking forward to finding out who the person is that I get to spoil!

The Yarn…

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? I knit full time and dabble in crochet (only the most basic crochet - I can chain and sc).

2. What is your favorite one-skein project? What item do you find you knit the most of? I think socks are my "most frequent" knit and they work as a great one skein project too! Cowls or fingerless mitts are a fast favorite too!

3. Do you like using a particular type of needle or hook? (wood, metal, straight, circular) Is there something you’ve been wanting to try, or a particular size you always seem to be short on? I adore bamboo and I just received a nice set of KA interchangeables. While I try to cable without a cable needle, it doesn't always work - I could use another simple cable needle.

4. What’s on your needles\hook right now? What’s your oldest UFO (unfinished object)? Actively on the needles: Toasty Topper for the Lorax, a guitar strap for the world's best 9 year old, Brigid socks, Central Park Hoodie. My oldest UFO's are a few years old at this point and I'd rather not think about them (considering finishing or frogging)

5. What are your favorite types of yarns? Are you allergic to any yarns, or just hate working with something? Anything type/brand of yarn you’ve been dying to try? I've been itching to try Malabrigo Sock. I always love trying other indie sock yarns: Darling Dachs (I have a dachshund!) for example. I'm looking to expand my experience with organic yarns (cotton or wool or alt-fibers). I have no allergies, but try to avoid things that itch or are ultra fuzzy / furry.

7. What are your favorite colors? Brights? Pastels? More muted colors? Variegated? Are there that make you want to stab yourself in the eye with your needles?
I love the blues-greens-purples. Brights are good, Muted are good, Variegated are good, Solids are good too. Pastels I'm not interested in, but that's it.

8. What is your favorite knit accessory, your fancy needles? stitch markers? your yarn cutter? What do you have TOO many of? What do you wish you had?
I wish I had a better organization for my "notions" bag - it's a mess and I can't find what's in it. I'm growing fond of fancier stitch markers - wee-ones (from etsy) are the ones I use most often.

The Chocolate
1. Do you prefer boxed/packets, or something homemade? Boxed / packets are really all I've ever known.

2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? Lately I've been using Peeps (marshmallows) & whipped cream. Fluff is also delicious, but I haven't had it in ages!

3. Do you use any ‘add ins’? Sometimes Bailey's.

4. Are you a year round cocoa drinker or just in the winter months? I would say I'm a 3-season cocoa drinker - fall-winter-spring

5. Do you like flavored cocoas or are you just a ’straight chocolate’ kind of person?
Straight chocolate is all I've ever known - a little mint flavor is good, but nothing more exotic than that.

6. Do you enjoy cocoa from restaurants or shops like Starbucks? What are some of your favorites? Starbucks is good.

7. You’ve just made the perfect cup of cocoa - is it in a thick mug, or a thinner cup? Where would you sit to drink it? This question has inspired me to make a blog post about my favorite mugs. I usually sit at my computer desk or on the couch.

8. You’re enjoying that perfect cup, what treats will you enjoy with it? Are they sweet or salty? Crunchy? Soft and flaky? Cookies are great with cocoa, so I guess that can cover sweet & soft. Anything chocolate goes with cocoa. Otherwise I have a massive sweet tooth that tends towards the sugar side - the entire Wonka candy line, Gummy Worms, etc

It’s all YOU!

1. Do you have other hobbies like spinning or scrapbooking? I love photography.

2. Do you collect anything? I used to, but that has slowed down because I have too much! I love Hello Kitty / Sanrio - they have many little / practical things to collect.

3. What is your favorite part of Winter? Fresh Snow. Snowflakes.

4. What sort of scents do you enjoy? Any difference in what you like for your house versus what you like for your body? I like citrusy scents and light florals.

5. Are you allergic to anything? Nope

6. Are you on Ravelry? What’s your ID? Nutmegknitter

7. How would you spend an ideal winter afternoon/day? Knitting, curled up on the couch, dog on my lap, baby asleep in her crib, good movie in the DVD player

8. What’s your favorite animal? Dachshunds, Rainforest Tree Frogs, Hello Kitty & Friends

Soap Pocket

Soap Pocket
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

I've been taking stock of things I have - trying to use up what's there before purchasing anything new. Lately I'm not really digging my shower gel, and conveniently I have come into several bars of soap. There's not much room in our shower stall, so I made a little soap pocket so it can hang and dry. This was a fairly quick knit, ignoring the days when I put it down. It's the 'Soap Pocket' from the spa set found in One Skein Wonders - used maybe half a skein of Kollage Corntastic in Ruby. Cute, practical. Use the handknits.

The soap currently in use was a Christmas gift from my MIL - sleepymoonsoaps in Lemongrass Ginger - quite nice.

Sock Count (contest results) & another "misfire"

I've counted and sorted and am considering my queue & library for sock patterns - I've got 58 skeins in that box - Ikkinlala was the closest with 57! You win the book since your guess was in first - I've sent you an email - look for it! and Breanna guessed 58! I couldn't find your email on your blog - drop me a line at nutmegknitter AT gmail DOT com please and we can get your prize on it's way to you!

Wow. So yeah, I don't need any sock yarn this year I guess. Even if I could do something like the 52 pair plunge that still wouldn't use up my yarn! :) Maybe that's ok. I really want to make more socks - Obviously I have a great collection started, and some of my older handknit socks are showing wear.

I knit up a hat last night - the baby hat from One Skein - I used up a skein and a little bit more of this great Cascade Cotton Rich - I used #3686 - it's like a hot pink with one strand of a purple in there - very pretty. The downside is, the hat came out way bigger than the 12-18 month size I thought I was making. It's still cute and functional though - it's a charity hat. Someone will love it (I hope).



I took this photo the other day - someday I hope she'll look forward to helping me with the knitting - how awesome would that be if I can get Lorelai to wind yarn for me?!

I resolve...

The resolutions post.

I always make resolutions. I don't often keep them. I've been reading a lot of blog posts of other people's resolutions (or not as the case may be.) And those are just 3, there are so many blog posts I read where everyone is so optimistic for 2009 - I think it's more so that any other year I remember, or maybe I just didn't pay attention then.

Last year I came up with a list - and even that has been changed. I'm working my way through my 101 things, but I wouldn't feel ready to take on the new year without a few resolutions to keep in mind (and some of these may end up on the list.)

*Totally copying Donna - Appreciate More. Acquire less. Aspire higher. Short and sweet and to the point.

*Stop buying the junk candy. I rant and rave about high fructose corn syrup, but I cave for a box of Mike&Ike's, Runts, Swedish Fish, Jelly Beans.... Maybe once in a while for a special occasion or a movie. But seriously, those dollars would add up.

*Exercise more - a perpetual resolution. The Wii Fit at least makes it fun.

*Knit something for my in-laws. I've cycled through my family: grandmothers, parents, brothers, future-sister-in-law, aunts, cousins, daughter and husband - and nothing for my mother / father / brother in law. I should be able to come up with three knit gifts for them.

*I won't be joining any real knit-alongs - I tried a few last year and they just didn't work out. My Mystic Light shawl is still on Clue#3, I withdrew from HatAttack. I'll knit what I want, when I want, at the pace I want.

*Knit 100 balls of yarn from the stash. I talked about this at SnB - what makes a ball? I'm figuring it's one hank / skein / ball of yarn. I don't have any sweater hanks, so I don't have to worry about the uber-balls of yarn. I'm also considering the idea of my own "Yarn Bank / Savings Account" - I'll save the yarn labels - each label is $1 I can spend... or something like that - still mulling that one over.

*Keep up to date with the KnitMeter. Count all yarn for a finished project (My first entry will be the sweater I finished knitting on 1/1/09! Yay - however, it's a model knit for Lorna's Laces and I can't show it off until after their show!). I'm very curious to see far I can "travel" in my knitting at the years end!

*Complete a few swaps. I didn't do too many last year - I miss swapping! I got a little burnt by a few swap-bot swaps (I honestly feel in a few of them people were looking to unload junk or didn't bother to find out what I liked.) I've already signed up for Cocoa Swap'n 2 - thanks to Jenn for pointing it out.

*Be more active in commenting on other people's blogs. I've got a ton of them in GoogleReader, but consistently comment at a handful. Comments are great!

All resolutions are subject to change at any point in time given this blogger's whim.

K.A.D.E.

(psst, one more day for my blog contest!)

Kool Aid Dyeing Experiment.

When I went grocery shopping the packets of Kool Aid caught my eye. And two packets of Strawberry jumped into my cart.

I have two skeins of yarn in my stash, that I got in a swap a long time ago. The colors (mostly blues) are totally me, but there's a spot (or two or three) of gold-ish / brown that just wasn't totally me. No tags on it, so I'm not really sure of what it is even. Seemed like a good subject on which to try the Kool Aid. I was hoping that red + blues = purples of any shade.

I quickly read up on the tutorials for this from knitty.com and knitpicks.com (.pdf file). I scanned other knit-bloggers too. But mostly I jumped right in, pretty much against all my science background / training - I didn't follow any exact procedure. But I did document!

Here's one skein, soaking in some roughly room temperature tap water.


Here's the strawberry kool aid and the still soaking yarn.


When I moved the yarn to the Kool Aid, I noticed something surprising. The water the yarn was soaking in was now blue! Interesting, though I don't know (or care much) if it impacts this K.A.D.E.


After 4 or 5 times under microwave action (2 minutes each), the water was getting to the pink-ish side of "clear" (though, in my opinion, when they say "Clear" "Colorless" is implied. The water was "clear" to begin with. end science-nerdy-rant) and currently I'm letting it cool before I rinse it and then find someplace to hang it to dry.


After a rinse, hanging on a hanger in the laundry room overnight....

Love. It's more reds / purple-ish that are rather berry-like. Fantastic!

Now I'm out of Kool Aid, so I need to decide if skein #2 will also get a Strawberry Bath or if I should try another color.