Yarn Along - Sept 28

From small things:

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

It feels so good to start a new book. I did buy The Help to read on the kindle, but was sidetracked by the news that library patrons could get e-books on their kindles! In playing around with it, I ended up getting an e-book on my phone - haven't quite figured out the kindle side of it yet. Anyway, I heard an NPR interview with this author a while back and thought I Think I Love You would be a fun read. As a young girl, my celebrity obsession ran the lines of Corey Haim (not New Kids on the Block as most of the other girls my age were obsessed with) - however, the story still rings true.

I've got a few WIPs this week: hexipuffs are still buzzing along, a semi-secret project, and a test knit of Tartan. Caryl's version uses Madelinetosh Vintage, which must be stunning! I went stash diving and decided to work with O-Wool Classic and Balance. I worked up this swatch to be sure I liked the color combo, so far so good!

We had a few really good nights of sleep, with me getting up only once, but last night I think I was up a lot more. So it goes I guess. If only Nate knew how cute he was when he sleeps.


Yesterday there was some excitement around town. A movie crew and all that is involved with that came to a local spot for filming! We checked it out:

We didn't have any star sightings, but I saw other people post online that they did see Meryl Streep - she's filming movie with Steve Carell and Tommy Lee Jones. Nifty.

Yarn Along - Sept 21

From small things:
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

Still reading about Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - this book continues to shock and impress me, much in the way that "Unbroken" did.

I have just about finished one of flittens - this one needs a bit of finishing at the thumb. I have to say, while I love 98% of this flitten, I am disappointed at the finger end. The pattern calls for a picot bind off. It looks pretty, but has flared out quite a bit.


It is enough of a flare that I can fold it back like a cuff and it almost looks better.

Right now I am undecided as to what to do. I could rip it back and try decreasing a bit more before the picot bind off, or I could rip it back and not bother with it at all (just leave it as knit / purl rows). I could also see if blocking helps at all. Hm. Thoughts?

Mini Maniac

Look what landed in my mailbox on Saturday!

Fingering weight minis! I played along in a swap on Ravelry - everyone sent in a skein (or two) that was already broken down into the minis and in return you an equal amount of minis. These are for my Beekeeper's Quilt project. What a great way to try out new yarns - I am looking forward to working with the Mini Mochi, Trekking, Yarn Chef, and colourphobia minis. There are also several that I already know and love - Lorna's Laces, Malabrigo Sock, Schaefer - even a Wollmeise!

This is such a great pick-up-put-down project. I am up to 27 done - it feels like there should be more, and I know there is a long way to go still.


Each little hexipuff is quite satisfying to complete. I am still saving the leftovers from each mini skein, as I am unsure if I want to make half-hexis from them or stripe them with other leftovers. That is a decision for another day.

One Month

With disbelief I write this post - the lil'nutmeg is already one month old today! We are starting to all get used to each other I think. The Lorax still calls you "our baby from the hospital" and apparently that stuck with her - she drew this picture this week of me, still pregnant.


But on to the "birthday" boy - since you've been born there has been an earthquake, a hurricane / tropical storm, a week without power, and many moments where Dan and I just look at each other and ask "Did Lorelai do this? Was Lorelai like that?" So much of these early days are blur - I try so hard not to compare you to your sister!
A lot of the time you enjoy being like this:

On your belly, trying to suck your thumb (left hand! are you going to be a lefty like mom?)

A lot of the time you also do this:

So serious. And we're seriously in love.

This Moment - Family

Inspired by soulemama.com
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


I have to add words to this. This week marks a major upheaval for my family - my baby brother is headed off on an adventure to Chile. He and his girlfriend (the cute kids in the lower right of the photo) are expected to be there for 2 years. I may not see or talk with my brother daily or weekly, but I am used to the idea that I could get into New York City to see him or pick up the phone and call, and I could count on seeing him at major holidays and other family gatherings throughout the year. But to not see him for two years?! He was "home" visiting family this week - I have seen my brother more in the last month and it has been really great. I will miss them terribly (and wish they would be around so my kids can see them!), but I am trying to look on the bright side of things and be thankful for that we can set up Skype at the holidays and keep track of their adventure on the blog.

What do you knit for people in Chile?

Yarn Along - Sept 14

From small things -
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

Another week has gone by! I've been really enjoying The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - it's the right mix of Women's Health History, science history, racial discussion and personal story. Last night, when the house was settled down for the night and the baby was fed, I chose to read more of the book instead of picking up the knitting. Now that's saying something!

Not that there has been a lack of knitting either! I've been still working on hexipuffs and a special sparkly project (one of 3 if all goes well). I think I will sit on this for a while longer before revealing it.

Cooler temperatures are supposed to arrive at the end of this week and I can't wait. Bring on fall, I say. Today is sunny (lovely) but warm and humid (ick) and all I can think about is fall weather and getting back to knitting bigger projects with wool - hopefully picking up a few sample and test knits again as well!

When In Doubt, Knit a Hat

Fellow Knitters, I'm putting out the knit-signal...

(credit for the logo goes to TheBookishGirl way back when!)

My good friend Betsy, aka Theatreknitter, and her family have had some major stresses to deal with. On Aug. 31st her nephew, Patrick, was brought into Yale New Haven Children's Hospital ER. On that day they found 3 brain tumors that were quickly removed . While he is meeting milestones and doing pretty well recovering from his surgery, there is still a long way to go. She would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and community of Yale Children's by donating "Pat Pat's hats" (PatPat is what Patrick calls himself) so that children undergoing treatment can get a warm hat while receiving treatments. We're looking for hats for preemies to teenagers, and everything in between. Can you make a hat or two (or more? Or maybe you would like to help in some other way?)? I am helping out as I can as a point person for collecting the hats. The hats will be donated on December 18th, Patrick's 3rd birthday.

You can message me on Ravelry (I'm nutmegknitter) or shoot me an email: nutmegknitter AT gmail DOT com
We have also set up a Facebook event as well - if you would like to "attend". I think it is set as a "public" event, but if you have trouble message me and we can figure it out!

Yarn Along - Sept 7

From small things ~
Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr.

I have finally finished Moby Duck. Sigh. I think I wanted more from this book, but it is hard to say exactly what. My educational background is in the environmental sciences and I like oceanography, but the material presented here was a bit dense and not always well explained. I felt it was overly wordy and frequently wished I was reading this on my kindle so that I could look up the definitions of the SAT-style words sprinkled through-out. The book could have benefited from illustrations or photographs. Sleep deprivation may also be a factor here but I really did not understand the need for a literary analysis of "Moby Dick" & fatherhood that was presented at the end.

I am very excited to be able to move on to some new reading material on the kindle. I have started The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - I'm 8% in (Dear Kindle, I really wish you would tell me the page number!) and it is very engaging already - I hope this continues through the book!

I have one plus just about one more hexipuff done, and the first Fuzzy Stripe flitten is ready to move the thumb stitches aside, so that's just about 50% done. I've also been able to get a few rows going on the "Rhinebeck2011" hat that my SnB is doing - it's fabulous!!

I am the sort of person who does well with structure and routine. I am very good at following the rules, until I get comfortable enough to bend them a bit (rarely do I actually break them - I am a goodie two shoes thru and thru). This week the Lorax starts her "school" so that forces a routine on our week and I am happy for it. Today was the first day and when I returned home I still had to mind the lil'nutmeg and Jackson, but I was able to get a few rows of knitting in, YAY! We're getting there!
Here's the Lorax on her first day of school:

I totally lied to her and told her I wasn't taking her picture to get this shot. You wouldn't know it from her expression, but she was excited to go and I think she had a good time, though she doesn't have too much to say about it.

The rest look like some blurry version of this:


Nate was ready though maybe a bit bored!

Priorities & Perspective

It has been the longest week of my life I think, but I am trying to keep perspective. Thanks to "Irene" we lost power 4am on Sunday, August 28. Power was finally restored on Friday evening, September 2. 6 days without power, without running water, with a very active 3.5yr old and a 2 week old. We were just getting a feel for the new normal, and then everything changed again. Another week has gone by and things are going to change again - the Lorax starts school this week (a multi-day / mornings only program for 4year olds) and Dan returns to work full time.

We made out pretty well all things considered. One tree went down in our yard but there really was no damage to our property or our neighbors. The Lorax showed Dan how to chop the tree and requested he make her a stump to sit on (no luck with that when you have an uprooted tree)


We have heard from friends who have to deal with flooding damage and the child of another friend is facing serious medical issues. Sigh. I would love to be knitting but haven't figured out how to balance that in just yet - it's coming, I know. Maybe this week... like everyone else we had to ditch just about all the food in our fridge / freezer - going to the grocery store today to restock and meal plan makes me feel like we have some sense of "normal" back, a little grip of control over the day, even though it is still variable.

In the meantime, I am enjoying looking at these cute little faces: