Three Little Knitted Frogs

2012-01-27T08:32:00.003-06:00

Inspired by Soulemama - {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.

Yarn Along

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Joining up with Ginny over at Small Thing's Weekly Yarn Along...

I haven't "Yarn Alonged" is quite a while. I've been participating though but can't seem to get my photos up in time.

As of now, I'm just about to embark on a nice, big sweater project, Chickadee by Ysolda Teague. I'm quite smitten with the nostalgic look of it and the old, sweet charm it has. I've swatched to practice the stranded chick pattern and to get gauge. The swatch proved to be too small and the next swatch proved to be too big. I'm going to guess I need to use the needle in the middle to get it right. Now I have to swatch for that one too. It should be a nice project to carry me into the long month of February. For being the shortest month, I think it will feel pretty long based on my husband's upcoming travel schedule. Blech.

Reading wise, I'm ever so slowly digesting Simplicity Parenting. I know I can't function well when things are chaotic and competitive feeling and I'm quite sure my kids are the same. I love this book. I started it a while back but didn't feel the need for it that I do now. I'm pretty sensitive to my space and the feeling/flow of my home and the ideas of taking things away to get more is really where we need to be right now (and always). It is very evident in my youngest who is at that really, really hard age (almost 2)! I'm pleased to see how much easier it is to control (probably not the best word to use) situations when the excess noise and stuff are not in the way. I'm looking forward to slowly absorbing the rest of it and directly applying it.

A Rat Hat

2012-01-22T15:58:00.002-06:00

I have a brother (actually two) that I'm quite proud of.

He has a very cool job and I'm so glad that he found what is perfect for him.

Having an animator as an Uncle is pretty awesome for my boys too. One Uncle can fix them if they are hurt (and take them fishing and burp really well) and one can answer any question about any movie or cartoon they can possibly ask. Plus, he makes them movies. We are all pretty lucky to have both of them.

For this brother, who is working on a new movie, Ice Age 4, I cooked up something special for him.

Lately, he is working on some Pirate Rats. I'm afraid to say anything more but here you go, Brando. Just for you.

I'm happy to help in your efforts to not comb your hair. You should though; you are so handsome when you do. I just can't help but be bossy about it - oldest sibling and all.

This Moment

2012-01-20T09:36:00.001-06:00

a week went by

2012-01-16T20:39:00.000-06:00

How did that week go by so quickly? All of a sudden it was Friday and now suddenly the week is starting all over again.

Our week was filled with:

Indoor play

Followed by snow (that melted in today's 60 degree temps)

Celebrating a birthday and an early birthday

Finishing projects

Lots and lots and lots of Lego's. Lots. Oh man, A L O T.

Go me. Another project finished.

And now getting ready to start another full week. I'm hoping to contain myself and stay away from home projects and just chill with my boys and of course, knit and work on our rhythm that has eluded us since the holidays.

So far this week started off with an early morning yarn dyeing - reminesent of the good ol' yarn business days...

and continued on with the bandit leaving his mark on each and every room in the house.

I anticipate this week going by a bit more slowly and accompanied by lots and lots of Lego's and probably lots of coffee.

A hat, a vest, and a pair of mittens

2012-01-08T20:29:00.001-06:00

I've started to crank out some little knits again. I'm determined to get my enormous collection of scraps under control. I've got more scraps than I do full skeins of yarn. It is depressing.

To work on that, I've whipped out a few little ditties this week.

First was a sweet little vest for the Bandit. A Milo - which I've knit before - is super fast and easy and great to wear. I used some bright, vibrant yarn from my favorite peeps - Western Sky Knits - and some miscelanny balls of self dyed yarn to stripe it up a little. I can never get enough stripes!

To finish the skeins of WSK yarn, I made a simple, yet highly effective hat, Basic Winter Hat. I've already made this one before too and find it really great to have in my wool bag (yes, I have a bag of wooly objects in my car) because it fits everyone. I finished the top with some fun little leaves.

Finally, I did a pair of super fast mittens for Reagan. I accidently felted the first pair of made for him. Luckily, they fit the medium boy so no big loss. With super bulky yarn, these came together really fast!

I've had a bad case of startitis lately. I just cast on a pretty cowl - Sylkie, and a hat to use up the last of my Shelter yarn, and of course, endless amounts of hexipuffs to make...oh and that other leg warmer that I can't make myself finish. Oh....and that cardigan I really want to make yet can't decide with what or what pattern to actually do...ah, Knitting is so much fun.

This Moment

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Rules of the Home

2012-01-03T21:34:00.001-06:00

After lots of talk (mostly due to recent road trips) Nathan and I have tried to come up with some new ideas for family management.

We thought of doing a "mission statement" so when we are in the heat of toddler-hood, we can remind ourselves what the purpose is.

A mission statement seemed to adult. We needed it to be something a bit more tangible to the very little people we are targeting. Yet, something that can be changed as we grow and change as a family (thank you chalk board paint!)

Thus, our rules were born.

1. Be NICE

2. Talk To God

3. Be Creative

4. Love Your Home

5. Be Yourself

Dinner time has been used to talk and describe and make examples of the rules and why and what they are. Both the boys like them as the oldest is (a huge) rule maker and the medium isn't. He told me he won't break these. "They work for him."

We want our home to be a sanctuary. Our oldest is bad at running his mouth at inappropriate times about people he is seeing and our medium one, is well, very much an individual who needs to feel secure in a space if he is a dragon, dancer, ninja, jedi, or just plain ol' Mason. Hopefully #3 will figure out what works for him. We are hoping these will be his guidelines to what our sanctuary looks like.

Continuing along with this idea of defining things, we defined each of our boys and gave them their own personal rules (so to speak) to what we are seeing in them right now. We know it will change.

We are hoping our rule maker will start to think of these rules when he chooses to upset a brother or make something out of nothing - good or bad (like the invisible finger wound tonight). We hope our rule breaker starts to recognize that moment before explosion and how it is always ok to be what or who he wants - especially at home. We all hope to remember the littlest bandit's need to be part of the gang.

I'm hoping all of these will remind me when I try to make them bend to my rules even though I really know they can't.

The New Year

2012-01-03T19:07:00.000-06:00

Hi!

I've enjoyed taking some time away from the time (I am barely) here to enjoy the holidays.

We did enjoy them too. At least we did once the Christmas stomach flu was past us. I remember telling Reagan how we will laugh next year when we remember how he got sick on his presents and under the tree. Yuck.

Our holidays first started with Aunty Jane visiting and Ryan visiting via Google Talk. We've had more than one Christmas like this.

From there we traveled to Nathan's parents and had 3 different Christmas celebrations.

Our family came home on Christmas Eve so Santa would not be confused on where to go. With my oldest having the flu (after the medium boy got over it) we didn't make it to church. We just had to improvise and probably had a more meaningful and enjoyable "service" at home.

Christmas morning started with someone getting sick and then immediately asking if Santa made it. Logan was very excited he got a sucker from the big man.

The homemade gift was proudly given (a butterfly box) then off to our next destination. We wish we would have known how sick Reagan was going to be. It was not pleasant for him. A lot of TV was watched. There were a lot of Star Wars questions asked by the medium boy to my youngest brother. He is a very cool Uncle.

Once finally home and waiting to ring in the New Year, everyone got better. I only had the flu for one night.
Lego's were the theme this year and since then there has been Lego this and that everywhere. Even little Logan, ever the copy cat, is into them.

We rang in the New Year with friends at a pool party that was lots of fun.

We also rang the year in with a little paint. Soft yellow paint. It is bright and happy now. Pink is now involved too. It is becoming more of a "mommy" room - hopefully happy and bright.

I did a lot of knitting over the break. I tried to catch up on knitting hexipuffs for my Bee Keepers Quilt. I think I did around 20. I also finished a shawl for a friend. It was fun to do. I'm tickled to do it for her.

We didn't make any resolutions this year. We did make some rules though (more on that later).

I'm not good at resolutions. I don't do well with promising myself anything - unless it is more yarn :)

I hope to do a lot of things better. One is to be here more in this space and share my little monsters and our lives with family and friends whom we don't often see. Another would be to show more of what I make. Also, I'd like to "make" more with those aforementioned monsters. We've gotten away from it lately. And style and my lack there of or do I have one? Hard to say. That too is a goal. And lots of knitting. I've got a mission to minimize that massive amount of scraps in the top of the closet. Get ready to gets some hats next Christmas.

We are looking forward to a fun and challenging year. We hope you are too.

Technicolor Boy

2011-12-19T08:51:00.000-06:00

My medium boy is quite the original. He is very talkative. He can also be quite a wall flower. Very Cancerian. He is really challenging in a very different way than our other two.

Our afternoons are usually filled with adventure play, heroes, dragons, super powers, The Force and the like. On days he feels like painting, he makes a canvas full of slashes and swoops of bright, happy colors.

It shouldn't have surprised me then when we went yarn shopping for a new vest that he would choose this wild comnination.

I tried to lead him in a direction that would look good and soft on him. Heathered blues, oatmeal, winter green. No, he wanted a technicolored dream vest. If there was sparkly yarn there (thank God he didn't see it) he would have had to have that.

"I must have this mommy. This is what I was thinking about. I want to see this!" He carried those skeins around the store making sure they were "squishy". He placed them in the order he would like to see them.

It is really all my fault. One of those previous afternoons he wanted to paint some yarn "mommy green" since he knows it is my favorite color. Since we keep our house pretty cool (65), the medium boy and are on "team cold" (the husband and boy #1 are team hot, #3 boy is just overdressed) and he thought he needed a cushy sweater.Being happy to oblige him in this, I made him a Fisherman's Pullover. Being a sleek framed 4 1/2 year old, he isn't a size 4 or a size 5 and my estimates on how he would like it to fit were off. Now the oldest boy has a sweater and the medium boy will have it next year.

Thus, the Technicolor Dream Vest was born.

It does look cute on him (despite the terrible yarn - must work on his yarn snobbery). It does look like him.Happy.Colorful.With pockets.

This Moment

2011-12-16T04:30:00.000-06:00

Yarn Along

2011-12-13T13:22:00.002-06:00

Linking up with Ginny at Small Things...

I've been knitting and knitting lately. I have one more special something to make for Christmas then I'm all caught up! It seems that the more things I need to do, the more things I start to cast on just to 'do'. Right now I've got three (soon to be four) projects going on.

Hexipuffs are never ending and always addicting. I think I'm up to the high 90's now. I'll have to make my 5 year old count them out for me. I love that they are such a great manipulative for him. He loves to make patterns and there is enough now to make pretty fun combinations.

I need another pair of legwarmers so I've got those going now. I have a pair now that I wear almost every day and every night. Another pair will be nice to add to the mix.

Lastly I've got a shawl on the needles too. It is pretty mindless right now which is what I need during this holiday season. I secretly hope that I have it magically done by the New Year. Maybe with our holiday drives to here and there I'll get it finished. I've done so many triangular shawls that it is nice to mix it up with a crescent shaped one.

I've picked up Organized Simplicity again and have been reading it when I get a chance. This book is motivating enough to really work through it thus I've been slow to actually finish it. Reorganizing and simplifying during the holiday season is actually really good for me. I always feel that Christmas is what starts the year off and I hope I have a more organized year in 2012. Preparing for the new toy additions for three little kids already has me stressed and pretty motivated to really think about what is liked and loved in the play room. With three little boys 5 and under, it is hard to weed out what isn't used and what won't be used. If my 21 month old could actually talk and tell me what he would like to play with in the next few years, it would be a lot easier for me.

This Moment

2011-12-09T13:18:00.001-06:00

crossed eyed and hiding

2011-12-05T13:39:00.001-06:00

I feel how Mason looks...crossed eyed and hiding.

-I can't seem to sit down and blog about anything. I do actually have things I could blog about too.

-Thanksgiving came and went. It was nice to see family and have the boys play on the farm. They needed the farm air. They enjoyed getting in the muck with some cows.

-Decorations are up. Many are down thanks to the red armed bandit. Our tree is sad looking with all of the ornaments on the top.

-Most of my Christmas knitting is done. Actually all of my "scheduled" gift knitting is. I'm sure I'll panic and think of something else I'll have to frantically do.

-My good camera is still at the Nikon shop. No word on how long. My not-so-good Point and Shoot is missing. So are two of my doll rods in my yarn winding wheel. I fear the red armed bandit has struck again. The house has been totally torn apart looking for both of them. I fear the trash.

-The big boys and I had a date on Saturday to see Puss In Boots. It was fun. I was reminded of why I don't see movies -gosh that was expensive! I was also reminded why I'm shopping local, Etsy, or Amazon. The people were not in the Christmas mood. I'm pretty sure of the gestures the boys saw were not in celebration of the upcoming special day.

-We rode the Santa Train yesterday. It was fun. It was cramped. The big boys couldn't think of what to tell Santa they wanted. It was very scary for the red armed bandit.

-The red armed bandit will be The Red Armed Bandit no more tomorrow. The smelly cast will come off. He'll just be the bandit then. One less weapon in his arsenal.

-It hasn't slowed down since before Thanksgiving. My list is so long I'm not sure where to begin.

If I could only find my camera...

2011-12-02T08:36:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T22:47:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Right Now Moments

2011-11-18T19:49:00.001-06:00

No words. Just right now via Instagram.

...

ETA: after 4 days of being gone, and a 10 hour drive...

Around Here

2011-11-14T19:32:00.001-06:00

Around here...

- I've not taken a lot of photos lately. I need to get better about that! It seems that I'm so in the moment that I'm not getting the moments on film

- My baby did break his elbow. After seeing a pediatric specialist, it was confirmed (rather easily -geez - even I saw it) that he did indeed break his elbow. An innocent accident with his medium brother being helpful. In 3 weeks it comes off and he should be good to go. We are lucky it was as simple as it is.

- I'm so so so behind on my Christmas knitting that I'm feeling the panic now. Plus my medium child wants a soft, green sweater that is not going as fast as I had hoped. Neither is that Christmas sweater. Yikes. Panic!

- I've been uber motivated lately cleaning and organizing my home. Since Nathan and I decided to no longer mess with garage selling and to strictly donate, I've been in a frenzy donating things we no longer need, things that are taking up space, and things that we really don't love but someone else might. Even my boys are in the mood to donate toys and clothes. I'm really trying to minimize what we have and it feels really freeing to give it up. Bags and bags and bags and bags. My closet is quite small now and organized by color. I love it.

- I'm amazed and awed by The Zero Waste Home. Wow. Lots of great ideas. Love the video.

- This bin idea has worked so well for my crew in the mornings and night. It has eliminated the need to find a place to hang jammies and have clothes ready to go in the morning. I hang them off of the closet door handles so they are off the floor and easy to reach and see.

...What is going "around" with you?

This Moment

2011-11-11T07:12:00.001-06:00

Cobbles

2011-11-09T12:38:00.001-06:00

I decided this fall that since I'm just about the only one in my family who wants sweaters (other than my medium boy), I'm going to knit them for me and not feel guilty about it. For some reason it is hard for me to do though - little people sweaters are fun and fast.

The most recent sweater I made is the Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood. I purchased the Cobblestone Pullover last winter while deciding what to make for Christmas gifts. I'm quite a fan of Jared Flood's patterns. They have this wonderful old school Elizabeth Zimmermann functionality with a more modern yet classic look. Plus, I love knitting in the round since it is easy for me to pick up and work on during my day.

My goal is to knit through my stash as much as I *can* and not purchase any new yarn just because I like it. If you are a yarn "collector", you will know that this is no easy task. Since I amassed quite a stash of SHELTER last year in several fits of wooly madness, I've been focusing on working through it. SHELTER is my favorite wool to work with. With its lofty, tweedy, light, and soft nature, it makes for perfect wooly sweaters. The four sweaters (not counting hats) I've knit with it is a good indicator of how much I love it. The Cobblestone Pullover was perfect for it. I'm really pleased on how it turned out.

With only a few mods (found on Ravelry), it fits just right and I know will become a great winter staple.

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along

2011-11-01T23:57:00.004-05:00

Following Ginny's weekly Yarn Along over at Small Things...

I've been happily and slowly plugging away at my fall sweater only to run out of yarn so close to the end. Because I've got to wait for more Shelter to come in, I decided that I'd better work on my Christmas knitting. I decided this summer that I wasn't going to go crazy like I did last year. I'm really trying not to but I keep thinking about projects that I can do. I took the time today to wind up yarn and see what I have. I think leg warmers are in store. Hats too. Oh and a cowl or two (or three)

I was humbled when my friend asked me to make a hat for her to give as a gift so I've been knitting away on that. It is such a cute little dead fish (if that isn't an oximoron) when it is finished and I hope it fits the recipient. I'm going for a Parrot Fish look and just decided that the fins need to be orange. It needs a little spunk. I'll have to dye that up tomorrow and wait some more.

This weeks reading finds me in the middle of Austenland. I'm enjoying the light read and it is moving nicely along. It does make me self examine my own obsession with Pride and Prejudice though. Maybe that same friend as mentioned above recommended this book to me because she knows I might have a problem.

Sigh... Mr. Darcy.

Halloween

2011-11-01T07:19:00.003-05:00

Our boys had such a fun Halloween! We are lucky that a good friend of ours hosts a really fun Halloween party. There were a lot of kids there! Managed chaos to say the least but super fun. Trick or treating in a large group seems to be the way to do it. It makes it fun for all of us.

The boys wanted Star Wars for a while now. Reagan was Captain Rex, Mason was Handsome Han Solo ( the handsome part was important to him) and Logan was Chewbaca.

Who needs guns? I don't and have none. Can you tell why? Fingers work just as well.

Star Wars was a big theme with a lot of little kids (and some adults) this year. Just in our group we had quite a bunch!

All the kids together.

I didn't make any costumes this year which made me a little sad. The only thing I did was to paint stripes on ribbon and sew them to Mason's pants. We also spray painted the empty gun holster for Mason. Pretty easy.

Logan thought Trick or Treating was great. He loved being part of the group and walked almost the entire time. He also loved his costume and strutted around like the cutie he knows he is.

The Candy Fairy came last night and whisked all the candy away and replaced with little gifts. Boys were up early so I'm going to assume today will be a long, hungover-from-candy-day.

this moment

2011-10-28T06:40:00.001-05:00

Yarn Along

2011-10-25T16:27:00.001-05:00

Following Ginny's Weekly Yarn Along over at Small Things...

I'm still plugging away on my Cobblestone sweater. The home stretch is almost insight though - just one more arm to go and then the join! I always feel like it goes so fast once all the pieces are put together and just the yoke is left. It seems the last of the weather in the high 70's are coming to a close and hopefully this sweater will be nice and cozy. I'm a cozy kind of gal.

I just downloaded Austenland per my BFF's advice. I don't often (really ever) post about audiobooks that I read. It is mostly because they are embarrassingly romantic. I need easy listening while I knit during the quiet nights and they fit the bill. I'm excited to read Austenland. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get it from the library a number of times but it isn't ever in and I have this 19 month who l o v e s books and screams with delight while I'm there. Oh and pulls books off of the book shelves. And yells "whoa" at every poster. We muddle through it though. I just have to tell myself that I'll get hours of peaceful little- boy(s)-reading bliss when I get home.

I do need help though. I'm spoiled with a very talented friend who is letting me knit some of her beautiful yarn for Stitches West. BUT - What to knit!! I just a can't decide. Even though I can't start this until I finish my current knit and some mittens, and two hats...I do want to know - now (so I can cheat and cast on).

I get to use this beauty -

Will you help me? Will you take a poll (over there <--- on sidebar)? Which one do you like best? Do you like something else? Shoot me the link!

1. Daybreak
2. Cladonia
3. Stripe Study Shawl
4. Green Line To Ashland
5. Terra
6. Whippoorwill
7. Gabriella

Welcome back

2011-10-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome back my friend. I'm so glad to see you. I plan on making you take lots of pictures of children and yarn. How fun it is to be you.

Please don't break again. For such a small expensive thing, you are very loved.

This Moment

2011-10-21T06:55:00.005-05:00

Yarn Along

2011-10-19T14:35:00.001-05:00

Following Ginny's weekly Yarn Along...

It has been a while since I've posted a Yarn Along (or posted at all for that matter). It is amazing how much I don't take pictures now that my good camera is in the shop. I hope it comes back soon!

Even though I've not posted, I've still knitted, a lot. I don't think that will ever change. Right now I'm knitting lots of Hexipuffs for the Beekeeper's quilt. I'm up to 70 and one more on the way. I enjoy knitting them. I knit them everywhere...while I'm cooking, waiting in the car, watching my kids bathe and so on. They are so portable! Plus, the boys like to play with them too and have been a great manipulative for sorting and counting. My youngest likes to throw them and take them out one at a time to say "UtOh" as it hit the ground. Considering that is one of his three words he has, he practices it a lot.

I also have a sweater on the needles for me. Since my older boys are getting to the point where they'd prefer hats and mittens to sweaters, I might as well as knit them for someone who wants them - me. Jared Flood's Cobblestone in SHELTER is an easy knit. I'm modifiying it as I go along adding waist shaping and length. I hope it turns out to be one of those sweaters that is worn all the time.

The last three weeks have been so busy that I've not taken the time to really read much of anything. I'm working on the activities section of Playful Learning and finishing up Organized Simplicity. Both are great and are nice to pick up and read a bit here and there.

Late to the party

2011-10-14T06:54:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late to the party. How is it already Friday? I've been meaning to post a few pictures of our weekend. I wish I would have gotten that done a bit earlier!

The past weekend we headed to my parents' house to see my brother (and parents and horses). We don't get to see him often since he lives across the country. It was a lovely weekend. It was warm and sunny and so nice.

I think my boys are natural country boys. They love being there with the dogs and horses and space. They fished, rode, ran, mowed, kissed a fish, found water gritters, fed horses, and snuggled up. It was great.

Tadpoles and frogs. There very cool Nana had them looking for organisms under a microscope.

One happy dog.

There is something about tucking in horses for bed that makes little people feel pretty big.

Trotting for the first time. We had to stop him giggling. Rene is trained so much that he was getting confused on if he should keep going.

Yes I know. He should be wearing jeans and boots. His mother forgot those things with the weather so warm. Mason, as always, made it work.


Baby boys first real ride. Insert tractor noises here and lots of giggles.

--On another note- my good camera is broken. I had to send it off the Nikon. I hope to make myself use the point and shoot so I can be a bit motivated to blog. I just pray it is back before the holidays.

This moment

2011-10-07T10:01:00.003-05:00

Broken camera

2011-10-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

My favorite toy is broken. Golly I love my camera. Based on what I've read in my manual, I think it is the shutter release. It has kept me from posting here all week.

So have my kids.

My house. My house is in organization mode. Since my family uses every square inch of it, order is very necessary. I really like this new blog I stumbled upon. I'm a fan of "real life" organized homes.

And (although you are not supposed to start a sentence with an "and") my dog. My dog I found having a very violent seizure on the carpet (of all places). His head was thumping so hard I could hear him from across the house. Poor thing. It wasn't like how my sweet Dani (rest her sweet soul) had. This was a bit more scarry. He was whacko when he finished.

I've managed to capture of few happenings with my ever ready phone. It has been such a nice week. We've been busy playing outside, adventuring for leaves (made lots of beeswax dipped leaves) and enjoying this October summer.

Logan likes to wear masks.

wash, rinse, repeat

2011-09-29T22:27:00.001-05:00

As I went looking through my pictures for my one "Friday Moment", I noticed something quite obvious. They are all of the same thing. Well over 60 pictures of the same thing happening, at different times, all week. I tried to really have a steady week. I guess I actually accomplished that.

::I see more of me knitting. Some frantic knitting -lots of that. Finishing a sweater, planning a new one, doing a hat, planning some baby things and trying to be practical about it. No baby things for me though. boo.
::I see a lot of a baby in the basket. It is charming at first. That is until I realize he is very quiet after he ran off and I go frantically looking for him calling his name, checking the door locks, checking the water dish...only to find him in a basket.
::I see lots of crafting this week. We made this, and this, and worked on these, in varying degrees and in varying ways. Also some classic crayon melted leaves.
::I see a a new puzzle arrived. It is much loved. Already mastered but that doesn't matter.
::I see lots of coloring, cutting, gluing, and exploring "stuff". The littlest man is suddenly really into blocks and "knitting" with wooden spools. Very cool to have your own needle when you are 19 months old.
::I see a certain 4 year old finally finding his artistic groove and really reveling in how many ways he can think outside the box. It is pretty fun to watch. I think a certain Nana will be receiving a horse that is in Florida at Aunt Pam's house in a mixed media approach with crayons, l o t s of glue, and maybe some food. At least that is what I was told.

This Moment

2011-09-23T10:11:00.003-05:00

{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.

Inspired by Soulemama's weekly post.

Why I can't get anything done

2011-09-22T22:48:00.001-05:00

Why I can't seem to answer emails or do blog posts (other than in my head)
Why I can't knit
Why I have had to put myself to bed at 8:45
Why I have to wash the floor a million times a day
Why I have books from one end to another
Why I have a boy who wants to be Johnny Appleseed
Why I have green stained hands
Why...because I'm having too.much.fun!

Yarn Along

2011-09-20T22:13:00.001-05:00

Following Ginny's weekly yarn along over at Small Things...

Slow and steady is the theme for this current knit and reads. I had bought a good amount of Shelter last year for a long cardigan project but decided that it just wasn't the pattern I wanted to make with it. I had this Irish Coffee pattern in queue for a while and knew this is what I needed to do. Something very rhythmic and something with just a bit to think about. Luckily one of my current reads, Little Red in The City, is so wonderful at explaining sweater fit and form and hopefully my new knowledge on it will pay off. My other read is (still) Playful Learning and I really love it. I know I'll be implementing some of the fun learning opportunities this coming winter. I really felt encouraged while reading about organizing and materials and applications to daily life. It seems to be such an evolving organic process and I'm thrilled with some new ways to think about it.

this moment

2011-09-16T06:53:00.001-05:00

Already over

2011-09-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

How did the weekend go so fast? How is it already the middle of Monday?

This past weekend seemed to go in a blur. I'm not sure why that is - but with three very busy little boys, it happens more often than not.

Friday night had me watching my mom show the "old man" horse and cheering her on as she won. Way to go mom! You really did look fantastic!

Saturday had us at a soccer game and Nathan scraping tons of moss off of our roof. After much scolding and a few nasty remarks, he finally got off of the roof and stuck to the ladder. I got to spend my day organizing (for the 100th time) my craft closet and shelf. It looks better now.

Saturday also had to make a radical change for Reagan and his lack of good behavior. Bye bye all Lego's. Bye bye Star Wars. Bring back imaginative play. Earn back what you want. We already see a difference. I think with school starting, we've all had to really adjust. Apparently, Nathan and I were not adjusting right for him. Maybe we'll be on the right track now. I hope so - I miss my sweet boy.

Sunday had us at Sunday schools, Nathan at a soft ball game, and me and the not-so-great-nappers working on quiet activities. One of my many lofty goals this week is to put together a treasure box of sorts for Logan to have when we do big kid activities/crafts. I have yet to find a good groove with him.

Sunday had Mason deciding to write Aunt Jane and Uncle Ryan an "email". He wanted to put the email in the mail box too. It was really fun seeing him motivated. What started out with him sounding out and actually writing the word "dear" in his own way (which promptly had me about weeping with pride) and then it turned into him writing the entire alphabet out by himself with only the letter chart as a guide. He was so proud of himself. Mason seems to create the same way he talks - one thing to another with no stopping. By the end, it was no longer an email but something to save forever.

Late Sunday afternoon took us on an "adventure" hike (as the boys call it) through the woods of Allerton. A collection of rocks, twigs, leaves, and tons of acorns came home with us. We could spend all day there. I know I could when I get to hold my sweet boy's hand.

Now I just need another day to recover from the weekend. Instead, I get almost a whole week of single parenting. Wish me luck. Its been a while. Amazing how easily it is to get out of shape of being the mommy and daddy at all once.

2011-09-09T07:54:00.000-05:00

{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.

Inspired by Soulemama

A Fortnight in two nights

2011-09-08T09:27:00.001-05:00

Little Logan has his first hat of the season. I think hats are the only thing he outgrew from last year. I saw the Fortnight from Brooklyn Tweed and knew I wanted to make it for Nathan this year. Like most things, Logan got it first.

Because it is an adult's hat, I had to make modifications to make it work. Using the percentages theory from Elizabeth Zimmermann, I just based each change in adult sizes with percentages and applied them in the opposite direction. It worked perfectly.

The little earflap short rows have me sold. I think I'll add them into every hat. The cable pattern was easy to memorize and fiddle with if needed to. I know I'll be making this again!

Ravelry notes on the hat...these are his pants...this is his shirt

In the basket, by the couch, on the floor

2011-09-07T13:59:00.001-05:00

My knitting and just about everything else seems to be all over the place as of late. Right now I've got 4 projects going on: The Beekeeper's Quilt, Fortnight hat, another and last pair of longies, and a Baby Shell. All need my attention but I plan on finishing (after I frog most of it) the Fortnight hat tonight. With glee I opened my wool storage box this week only to find out that I don't have any hats to fit my youngest. Of course that just won't do!

I'm trying to put down my needles and read Playful Learning. I'm just getting into this book but I have really high hopes for it. For my young boys it seems fall is the beginning of the crafting and indoor season so I'm trying to gear up!

Round here

2011-08-31T10:24:00.001-05:00

-around here I can't get my stuff together. We seem unable to find our new school rhythm. It feels very chaotic.

-fights seem to be the norm as do overly tired children and mother
-I stayed up way too late last night/early morning trying to get something done in this house. It involved wool and needles and felt great
-the smallest trouble maker's allergies have come back. He was up in the middle of the night having breathing problems. I'm so not ready to deal with this again.
-Reagan started soccer practice yesterday. He was so excited. In fact, at 12:30 this morning he got up to do it again. I found him next to Logan's bed (who was woken up by it) trying to find shoes to go again. Luckily, I was still up.
-The medium child has been angelic lately. I'm not ready for that to end either.
-These pictures have nothing to do with anything. It is one of the only happy smiles I've gotten today. Not even a long walk and playing with the mops have gotten much response. But, syrup makes me smile too.

How did that week pass me by?

2011-08-29T13:37:00.005-05:00

I'm not quite sure where last week went. It was busy. I'm not sure why it was so busy, but it sure was.

It was the last week of summer for Mason before he started school. I tried to soak that up with him as much as I could - putting everything (ahem - house!) aside to do whatever his little mind wanted to do. A wookie for you? Sure darling, we'll make it right now. You need a tent today, right this very minute? Absolutely. Bake supper and you do it all and tell me what to do? Sure, of course my sweet boy.

Then poof, it was Friday. Their first camp out - in our yard. Living in a subdivision dominated by huge, gorgeous trees makes for a very realistic camping experience (when you are 4 and 5).

Just a little note though- it is entirely possible to have a hang over from too many Smores. Just saying. Also, a fire with a very active (read naughty) 18 month old is not fun.

Then poof again - it is Monday. First day of preschool for Mason (again). He was pretty confident this time. After all, he has done this before. Reagan still needed to give him advice though. He listened with rapt attention until he finished. The he asked, in all seriousness, if his white uniform shirt and blue shorts were more of a Storm Trooper or a Clone Trooper look. Clone Trooper of course. Ever the diva in his own, Mason way.

The middle

2011-08-19T19:04:00.002-05:00

He really likes to be in the middle of everything.

2011-08-19T07:37:00.003-05:00

Inspired by Soulemama: {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. This week Reagan thought we should share his dinner party he had.

First Day

2011-08-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of kindergarten.

There were no real tears...maybe a little misty though.

There was one very excited little boy. One sad medium brother. One brother who wanted a cracker.

Yesterday we were talking about how his day was going to look and how long it will be before he comes home and how much I'll miss him during the day. He reassured me that, "he'll come home and still be the same ol' Reagan. So I don't worry about me mommy."

sniff. sniff.

Yarn Along

2011-08-16T21:24:00.001-05:00

Lately I've been lucky to finish some big projects. Freeing up my needles is always such a fun sense of accomplishment. I wish empty laundry baskets would give that same feeling to me. I'm on a home knits kick and have found the most perfect long project to work on -The Beekeeper Quilt. It will be made up of hundreds of these little stuffed hexipuffs that once tied together, will be adorable. I'm using a color palate from one of my favorite artist to keep it relatively organized. So far it is the perfect project to tote around to our playground and tuck in my purse. I'm still working on my little one's longies stash and have a knit-along shawl that I'm not feeling to much (I'm a linear person, not geometric) and a birthday present for a little friend of ours in the works. I like to be busy as a bee at all times.

I feel like I've also been lucky to finally get a most anticipated fall read - The Rhythm of The Family by Amanda Blake Soule. I'm sure I won't be the only one in this yarn along to be currently reading it. It is great. I love her blog and am very inspired by her. This book gives me some great ideas to jump off of with the soon approaching season change. I have a feeling that I'll be reaching for it again and again (like I do her other books) as the year ends and starts anew.

............
Following along with Ginny at Small Things -sharing our favorite things...knits and reads.

A little trip to the land of Lego

2011-08-16T20:54:00.004-05:00

Before the busy school year starts, we (my mom and I) had to fit one more thing in. If you had the 'pleasure' of being around either one of my older boys, you would have known that we were planning on going to Chicago and going to Legoland. We didn't make it all the way to the city. It was supposed to have some severe thunderstorms (and boy did it ever) so we opted to go the the burgs.

It was fun though! We only stayed there a little more than three hours but it was enough Lego time to keep them pretty entertained. They walked through an Alien invaded Chicago, hiked in the jungle, rode a dragon ride, raced a build your own car, and took an Alien Defense Unit class (instructed by a guy who probably has the worse job in America). It all ended in shopping-- which was what Reagan was all about.

Only Mason would snuggle up with Darth.

I think Mason and I wanted the Ewok Legos the most though. (Hint hint Uncle Bwandon!)

A little something fun

2011-08-16T20:19:00.002-05:00

I do love my iphone. It is so handy. I'm not sure how I lived without it before in this fast paced communication age. It frees me from checking the computer which usually results in something happening in my house that shouldn't.

One of the best things about it is the pictures' apps and my favorite one is Hipstamatic. The different lens, films, and flashes it uses makes some really fun pictures. As much as I love my camera (and I LOVE my camera), it is freeing to snap little moments here and there with the phone.

I just spoiled myself with a new one today - The Mission HipstaPak. It makes the pictures almost fairy feeling and just plain fun to play with.

What are your favorite photo apps? I love trying new things out.

just being

2011-08-12T13:42:00.004-05:00

We took a week where we focused on just being. No scheduled dates, no appointments, and nothing pressing to do.

We were so blessed with incredible (but still very dry) weather. I got to wear socks again AND a hoodie.

Everyday we were outside. Every lunch was eaten on the porch or picnic style at one of our favorite places.

Pure freedom. Just being. A last week of summer.

This Moment

2011-08-05T06:52:00.002-05:00

Inspired by Amanda -- {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.

Ewok

2011-08-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Conversations with Mason about Star Wars

Mason: What does Yoda eat?
Me: I'm not sure bud, what do you think he eats?
Mason: Worms and catepwillers. And probablee fruits and veggies.
Me: Why would he eat that?
Mason: He is green and small.

Mason: I'm hungry.
Me: Again? You just ate. What do you want to eat?
Mason: Whatever Chewy eats.
Me: I don't know what Chewy eats.
Mason: Can we gwoogle it?

Mason: I'm hungry again.
Me: Mason! You just ate an entire batch of strawberries and two cheese sticks.
Mason: But I'm still hungry. I must be growing or something.
Me: Well, what do you feel like eating?
Mason: Whatever Luke Skywalker eats.
Me: I don't know what Luke Skywalker ate.
Mason: Just gwoogle it mama.

Mason: Does Logan talk in Ewok? He sounds like them but fusses more.
Me: No, I think he just talks in his own little Logan language. He'll talk soon.
Mason: I think I need an Ewok. I willy need one.
Me: No, I'm not going to buy you any new toys.
Mason: Will they have them in Chicago? Can I get some there?
Me: No, we are saving our money just for Lego sets.
Mason: But I do! I do! I need some to play with.
Me: I bet we can make one together.
Mason: (asking 1,000 times since morning) Can we make one now? Can Logan go and sleep yet?

Yes. Now we can.

Yarn Along

2011-08-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

Following Ginny's weekly yarn along...sharing our favorite things -knitting and reading!

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I forget that after lots, and lots, and lots of longies made over the past 5 years, I can whip a pair up pretty fast! Last yarn along I had just started the first pair of this season's collection and poof, in a few days they were already done! I love that about knitting. Fingers just kinda know how to do things after a while. No real thinking required and a glance is all I need to see if I'm doing it right.

Now I'm already on to my second pair and this time they are in buttery bulky gaia (or Stallion) wool and so fast to knit. In contrast, so slow to knit is the lap blanket I've been working endlessly on. I think it will be ironic this winter when I'm so cold and sick of the weather and reach for this warm, woolen throw, that I knit this when it was so hot and so dry! I'm plugging along on it though. The hap lace portion is pretty fast-well at least faster than I thought it would be. With over 500+ sts per round, it seems to take a bit of time just to get to the finish line marker.

Also still plugging away is my current read of Organized Simplicity. I've added it to our discussions at the dinner table which has proven to be quite insightful. For example, when discussing what individual strengths we have as family members, my four year old said, in all seriousness, that "he is very good at eating all of the time". And he is.

This moment

2011-07-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Soulemama -- {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.

Yarn Along

2011-07-27T10:53:00.001-05:00

Following Ginny's Yarn Along at Small Things where we share our latest knits and reads...

In the basket this week, I'm starting to work on my littlest's fall wardrobe of knitted pants. I've got a lot to knit him, lucky little man. I plan on doing several pairs with an elastic waistband for easy changing. Of my three, he is the most difficult to change diapers. It is like a wrestling match every time and of course he takes them all off so he has to be in good ol' pins. These pair will be made with Marr Haven Merino Ramboulette dyed in a simple tan to go with everything. I'm trying something new with them to reduce bulk by knitting the inside of the waistband in worsted gaia and then I plan to switch it on the outside of the waistband to the Marr Haven.

I'm still working on Organized Simplicity. The statistics of TV watching and mindless use of technology is staggering to me. The TV doesn't personally lure me in but I can spend way too many hours on the computer. I know I've had to really take myself away from many online "groups" I participated in when I noticed how much time it was taking away from my home life. Making that commitment was hard, but it sure was worth it. I'm enjoying this book. So far it has a lot of good discussion topics for my husband and I.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is up to!

********
On a side note...I am looking for a needlepoint/embroidery pattern of a woman in braids doing handwork. I usually see in in red thread. I know it is in a picture in Soulemama's book and I've seen it online often. I want it! Anyone know what it is called? :)

On the needles

2011-07-26T10:50:00.002-05:00

Even with this burst of hot summer heat, I've been clicking away. Some days I get a chunk done and others I don't get to my needles until late at night. But I'm motivated. Fall has to be here soon. Knowing my luck, it will be cold really fast and all of my woolly plans will be started too late.

Right now I've got four projects in the works. I attended a Knitter's Retreat with my local yarn store, Klose Knits, where we learned some Fair Isle knitting, miniature sock knitting, and adding beads. Although I knew how to do all of these (and I didn't realize that it was a beginners kind of retreat) it was fun and I was happy to lead a hand when needed. One of the projects was to knit felted wine bag. I'm just about done with the green and will add some red and white trim to the top. Easy and simple knit and it was good practice with multiple color knitting.

I'm plugging away on a lap blanket by Brooklyn Tweed - The Tweed Baby Blanket. I wanted something garter and something with the hap lace for those cold winter nights. I unfortunately ran out of the main body yarn and now have to search for more. I opted out of using the SHELTER yarn for the entire thing and substituted Cascade Eco for the center panel. I'm looking forward to tackling the outside lace portion of the blanket and am so annoyed at myself for not getting enough to begin with. I hate waiting to work on things. On a side note - if you are a Brooklyn Tweed fan...their new fall collection, Wool People, is so beautiful. You must go and see!

Tonight I should finish the sock yarn sweater for Logan. It is so much smaller than I wanted it to be. I knit tight and even though I went up a size on the pattern, it still is not as large as I wanted it to be - even with a gauge swatch. Maybe he won't grow much this winter! Luckily I can always add length later if I need to. I opted for a layered look on the sleeves and ribbed wrists since I'm not a fan of loose sweaters on little people.

Soon, I'll start on the first pair of longies of the season. I've collected (aka hoarded) a lot of really fun wools for Logan - some was even hoarded for Mason before he potty trained - and have a lot of plans for that this fall. Since Logan is my last little monster, I plan on decking him out in homemade goodness whether he wants me to or not.

Over the weekend

2011-07-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

There were sounds of sawing, drilling, and sanding coming from the garage. Nathan built me a wonderful shelf for our dining room/art room to store our supplies on. I love it. It is perfect. It is handmade. It is wood. He and Mason bought really pretty knot free wood and I "stained" it with beeswax. It is so light and pretty and will last a long time.

There were sounds of things being built on the table. Lots and lots of Lego time. One boy following the directions and one never even looking at them. Both enjoying their time together.

There were sounds of clicking needles. Lots of clicking needles. It seems forever that I've actually got more than just a bit of knitting done. More on that to come later.

There were sounds of babble as the youngest had to join in. Had to. Tried, as always, to be right in the middle of it. The middle of the table is where he really wanted to be.

There were all sorts of that good kind of noise. The kind I'm already afraid of missing when they get just a little be older.

Around here

2011-07-22T09:38:00.003-05:00

It is so hot here. I don't want to complain because I know it has been hotter and hotter for longer in other parts of the country, but man, is it hot here. It is too hot to play outside. It just isn't any fun. It feels like it does in the winter with all of the curtains closed to conserve energy. It is dark inside. A balmy 78 inside instead of the cool 64 it is in the winter - but you get the drift. We're stuck inside. It is a bummer no matter what time of the year it is.

We are embracing the heat with lot of different things. Puzzles have been played with a lot, Thomas The Train has made an apperance again, musical instruments can be heard all day (lucky me), books books and more books, a play date, Trio Lego clicks from morning to night, and a trip to the mall just to get out and walk a bit. TV has been forgotten with as many adventures that are being had. I like that part the most.

I think Logan has had the most outside time in the last couple of days since he wakes up at 5. For a 17 month old, he is exceptionally good at watering plants.

These moments

2011-07-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

I could have blogged about a lot of things lately. Finding the time to do it would help. Possibly finally joining Facebook might have something to do with it. Or, possibly, it was a week where the word "survival" came to mind more often than not.

I could blog about seeing my sweet sister-in-law and how she came and stayed with us and cooked us a most fabulous meal. I should have taken a picture of all the dirty dishes and how we devoured it. I could blog and blog about how wonderful she is and how much my boys (and all of us) adore her.

I could blog about some finished knitted socks and how I have a hard time not starting project after project or how I can't seem to get much knitting done.

Or I could have just blogged about these fat little legs. Don't you just want to nibble them?

Yarn Along

2011-07-13T05:58:00.000-05:00

This week, I find myself in the "self help" section of my little home library. Being a never ending "nester", I'm constantly looking for more ways to make our family space happy, quiet, simple, and intentional. The more my kids develop into themselves, I find I'm constantly needing to change my surroundings and to not cave into all of their wants of more "stuff". I've picked up Organized Simplicity to give me an extra boost in this department. I've been really working in my space a lot lately trying to simplify and reduce. It seems to be a very hard thing to do with three little boys. I've also picked up Simplicity Parenting based on my friend via Yarn Along Rachel's reads. I'm really looking forward to starting it this week.

Continuing the simple theme, I'm knitting a simple sock yarn sweater. I love the colorway (I had the same one in longies for my middle son) and have decided to make it look like a layered t-shirt. I think it will be a great weight for my littlest to wear this fall and winter. A very simple knit.

*****

Continuing to follow along with Ginny at Small Things!

This Moment

2011-07-08T07:36:00.001-05:00

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-07-06T06:17:00.000-05:00

Last night I've finally finished the 'quick' read, Made From Scratch. It was a great little book and I feel that I learned a bit and it didn't make me feel guilty for not having all of the means to live off the land. Sometimes I feel like, when reading this genre of book, authors tend to make such strong points and valadations for what they deem is the best that there is no way I could ever win with them. She championed just growing a bit of produce in a pot if that is all you can do - and I appreciate that!

I've also just finished the knit I was working on last week, Transatlantic. I went with the minor mistakes I made and still like it in the end. They keyholes it has will be quite handy since I'm always picking kids up and hate it when shawls/scarves fall off. I also got the last of my Hats For Japan finished and should be in the mail this week. Nothing like waiting for last minute. Now I'm just finishing up plain ol' socks. A bit boring but I'm glad to get them done. I've got plans on starting this little sweater out of sock yarn. I think I'll stripe it too. One can never have enough stripes.

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Following Ginny's weekly Yarn Along!

family fun

2011-07-05T21:16:00.000-05:00

We had such a nice 4th of July. Nathan came home from being gone for 6 days - ending a very long traveling month.

Our good friends had a lovely party. Good food, games, and fun!

We stayed up late to enjoy the fireworks. I think they are still feeling hung over from it.

A little crafting

2011-07-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I've shared some crafty goodness. I have been crafting - a lot- and it hasn't been all knitting! A stretch for me for sure. I'm not a patient knitter or a very patient stitcher but I'm working on it.

So here is a little mishmash of what I've been up to in the last few weeks.

From left to right: Transatlantic, booties, a dress sewn for a gift from a Simplicity pattern, In Threes Cardi, one simple socks, Stripes Study (again), Embroidery and Curtain from Alicia Paulson's Embroidery Companion.

Phew. That was fun!

this moment...

2011-07-01T06:39:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-06-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

Participating in Ginny's weekly Yarn Along...

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After finishing last week sock (in the singular form) I had to do something different. I started a fun shawl from Westknits Book 2 that I got when I went to the book signing. Since the designer picked this yarn out for me, I knew it would be a 'bit' more fun than a plain ol' sock. It is. I've messed it up here and there in little spots since I've needed to knit more this week but I'm going with those imperfections. Frogging slip stitches and increases is not any fun. I'll call it a "working on the need for perfection".

I'm still reading Made From Scratch. I like the part memoir and part how-to. Easy and fun to read. I've been reading a lot of my books on the Ipad via Kindle. I think I like to hold an actual book though. I can toss it and grab a child quicker than I can put something electronic down. Plus, it is more appealing to snuggle up to.

What is in your basket this week?

today

2011-06-28T23:27:00.000-05:00

Today was a sweet day. Quiet morning, beautiful afternoon, easy evening.

Weekending

2011-06-27T13:22:00.001-05:00

Our weekend was too short. Daddy here for about 24 hours with a birthday party, a lawn to mow, and repacking to be done before he was off again.
I am getting ready for another long week and not too motivated about it

Switching rooms around (again) so we can have a play room and not have toys and books and unknown objects strewn from one end of the house to another
lots of dress up play and indoor adventures

Swimming lessons and T-Ball ending this week then on to weeks of nothingness and a bit of VBS
time restart some daily school work

hoping for some actual summer weather so we can go to the pool

this moment...

2011-06-24T08:51:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-06-22T07:18:00.000-05:00

Participating in Ginny's weekly Yarn Along...

On the needles this week are a pair of plain socks on Beaverslide Merino. It is a very yummy and rustic yarn but oh so slow! A little more than 7 sts per inch make it such a long, boring knit. I think I'll need to cast on something else today just to break up the monotony of it.

Reading wise I've got two good reads going on. Made From Scratch is a fun, light read. It just makes me wish for space for fun thing like chickens. I've always wanted chickens and it doesn't help that my boys want farm animals. I'm also reading and rereading and rereading the new Elizabeth Zimmermann publication, Knit One Knit All. She is just so genius. I love how they have some of her art work in the book and the little notecards and scraps of paper she wrote out patterns on. It is like a little glimse at her thought process.

What is in your basket this week?

Over the weekend

2011-06-20T07:07:00.000-05:00

we played catch up but never really did

took our soon-to-be 4 year old out on a birthday date for salads (his request), custard, and a bit of solo spoiling
finished sewing projects (for now) - why does it take me an hour and a half to hand hem a baby dress?
opened presents since daddy will miss the big b-day
celebrated father's day with a long bike ride with the big boys, with food, and with Cardinals' gifts
ate ice cream cake -again!
the biggest of the three lost tooth number 2 and wants to write another letter to the tooth fairy so he can keep it like his first one.

this moment...

2011-06-17T08:48:00.002-05:00

weekend ended

2011-06-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

I was hoping to post this little tidbit about our weekend yesterday - when it was still the weekend - but now it is 10:30 on Monday and I'm now getting to it.

It was lovely here this weekend (and today!).

I think - as a collective family - we were outside from dawn till dusk

I really washed windows and have more to really wash still. I can't believe how dirty they get living in a heavily wooded area. I also think I like the brightness of the house more. I want to believe that it made that big of a difference after how long it took me for 3 measly windows. I also want to take screens down in the winter so when we are sad and stuck in the house, at least we will have a bit of a better view.

We celebrated my upcoming birthday by eating my favorite food - Mexican - and then shopping for plants. We learned that, like their mother, my boys can inhale queso cheese in minutes. Mason likes tacos and salad, Reagan likes burritos, and Logan likes to drop chips on the floor.

All of my boys made me cedar window boxes for my birthday gift. Logan contributed greatly by taking a long nap during the construction.

Boys never get tired of swinging and daddy can swing them better than mommy.

T Ball was practiced and so was pitch hitting as well as running after the soccer ball and bouncing off of that ball I should use for sit ups. (But bouncing off of that is way more fun and productive than sit ups.)

The big boys and I planted a moss garden around steps since we have so much abuntantly growing around us. Mason is very into planting things. He assumes the role of "nature guy" and creates his own little story lines while he is "helping" me plant. He also decided to dress in character when we went to get a few groceries.

Radishes were added to the mix of our garden and are a new favorite veggie of Mason and mine.

Hope your weekend and start to the week was as perfectly pleasant as ours.

this moment...

2011-06-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Wool Keeping

2011-06-09T13:38:00.000-05:00

With the temperatures reaching the upper 90's this week, I think we are done with our woolens. It seems like we just finished using them since spring didn't really happen and two weeks ago we were cold.

I collected them all this morning from the kid's bins, hangers, and crankies around the house. My sweaters/shawls/cowls have already been put away but still able to be used since I'm always cold.

Everything got a good shave. If you are a wool loving person, you must get an Oreck shaver. Best.Thing.Ever. It plugs in and is very powerful and easy to clean. After a good shave everything looks newly knitted.

I sorted the woolens into piles to see what I need to start on this summer. More mittens for sure. Probably some cowls for playing in the snow. Hats of course. I made Logan try on his hats and deemed most of them too small.

They got a bath so they can be ready to be donated. I like to use a wool wash bar (Naturally Luxe in Almond, Milk and Honey is my favorite) and Euclan to get them clean and fresh smelling. Since they have been used all fall and winter and more than likely winters before that, they all went into the sink. I don't normally cross wash wools if they are "new" as dye tends to bleed - even from commercial dyers.

Sweaters got a spray of Lavender Bac-Out Fresh fabric refresher. I love using this stuff around the house. Waaay better than febreeze too.

The sweaters, hats, mittens, and cowls that were still clean got folded and put away in a canvas tote sandwiched between two cedar planks. I'm waiting for a shipment of lavender to come from Etsy so I can make lots of sachets bags for my yarn collection(s).

At least one summer chore got done today. Not much else though! It has been one of those days.

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-06-08T08:13:00.001-05:00

Joining Ginny's weekly Yarn Along...

In the basket this week I'm still slowly plugging away on another Stripe Study shawl and a basic pair of socks. Neither knit has had much attention though - summer is here and in full swing and my days seem to be filled with too much!

I'm just about done with Pride and Prejudice. I've been really trying to keep the needles down and finish this up. It is becoming a 'project' that needs to be finished! Oh but that Mr. Collins is so insufferably annoying!

The first child

2011-06-05T20:18:00.001-05:00

You know he is the first child in a lot of ways. I'm not sure that they are all good ways...but you get what you get with him.

At 14.5 weeks (see...I told you he was the first child) he had tooth #1 and then shortly after tooth #2.

Somewhere in his 5 year old time (today!), he lost it.

If you have been in the area, you probably would have known about the loose tooth. It was displayed with pride for about a month now.

A bite of an apple got it really loose this morning.

A tooth pillow is in the works and a letter to the tooth fairy is to be written. He does not want to give up the tooth. He would like to please keep it. I think he has plans to even type the said letter.

The first child.

this moment...

2011-06-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

{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.

following Amanda's weekly moments...

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-06-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

Participating in Ginny's weekly Yarn Along...

I missed last week's Yarn Along. It was the first one I missed! It wasn't for the lack of knitting or even a bit of reading...life was just too busy! I'm not sure what I've been so busy with as it seems my list is ever growing and still so many things need to be done.

After finishing two really big projects, a Catkin and Whippoorwill, I'm ready for some steady non-thinking knitting. I'm participating in a SAL (Shawl Along) with Skein on Ravelry and have decided to use my skein of Skein to make another Stripe Study shawl. Simple and mindless garter stitch. I think that is what I need right now. For a more portable project I started a simple pair of socks too in a rustic tweedy wool. After freezing for what seemed like an enternity this winter, I think I need lots of woolen socks.

I'm still working on Pride and Prejudice and now am getting to the meat of it. It feels a bit odd to read such a classic on a Ipad but I love the feature of touching a word and having a the definition pop up for you.

Christmas in May

2011-05-31T20:31:00.000-05:00

I decided to take the advice of a knitwear designer this year reguarding knitting for Christmas. He feels most creative towards the holiday gift giving when he takes a year "off" from a majorly knitted Christmas. With that advice in mind and my natural tendencies to over do it (so that I'm knitting in the wee hours of the morning), I'm only going to give a few knitted things.

I thought I should probably start early. I've got a long queue of things I plan to knit my boys. I plan on forcing Logan to wear an obnoxious amount of longies this fall and winter. Uniform vests for Mason. Lots of socks.

I wanted to give something to my sister-in-law's mom. Her family is always so thoughtful and frankly, they let her marry my brother. I think that is worthy of some sort of medal of honor. Like her daughter, she is quite beautiful and graceful and I thought a Whippoorwill would be a perfect thing to give.

I wasn't sure what yarn to use for this project other than I knew I wanted something very feminine, silk and wool, and very light and soft. My mom, aunt, SIL, and Nana all thought about it over Spring Break with me. Finally, I found the perfect one. Becoming Arts' Eos Fingering was just perfect. I stalked the colorway - Sanguine Sky- and as soon as I was emailed that it was finally in stock, I put my iphone to work. Life is good when you can buy wool on your phone.

Now I just need to figure out the best way to pack this until winter. Christmas is only 207 days away.

the end is here!

2011-05-27T17:58:00.001-05:00

It has been a very long and very busy week for us. I had things to post about but they are old news by now.

Today was the boys' last day of school. It has been such a fun year for them! They've grown in so many ways.

It is hard to believe they are getting so big!

something new

2011-05-20T21:18:00.000-05:00

We found a Luna Moth yesterday in our yarn while we were playing. It was so beautiful and neat to see! I've never seen one before!

Mason was sure it was a bat. He is always hoping to find bats in our bat box. He could use their help. The mosquitoes find him so tasty.

Google is just the best at finding out what things are. How else could you type in "leaf looking butterfly Illinois" and have this pop right up in images!

a little late moment

2011-05-20T21:13:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Amanda - {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.

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-05-18T09:46:00.001-05:00

Joining Ginny's weekly yarn along....

After finishing last week's knit, I really tried hard not to knit any and finish some embroidery projects I have sitting around. I lasted about 72 hours before I couldn't stand it anymore. I cast-on last night for a Whippoorwill for my sweet sister-in-law's mother in an attempt to get an early start on Christmas knitting.

As for what is being read around here - I'm still on Pride and Prejudice and my boys are really into reading everything about ducks and geese they can get. We got three little White Chinese Geese in the mail early in the morning today. We are just fostering them for my parents since we live in the *city but it will be so fun for them!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on!

**I need to clarify what a city is as I guess I don't technically live in a "city". I live in more of a "bedroom community" or "quaint little town" or "wanna be suburb of another not so large city". According to Wikipedia, a city is a relatively large and permanent settlement.^[1]^[2] Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.

Thank you for pointing that out KS. I dearly appreciate finding the appropriate words to use in any given sentence. I hate to be wrong.

Hazel

2011-05-17T14:25:00.001-05:00

My latest finished project was so much fun. It was the hardest and most consistently labor intensive knit I've yet to do. And it was so worth it.

The Catkin shawl was really intimidating at first. 5 charts, 9 pages long, 3 hours just to do the swatch...made me quite nervous. It wasn't something that I could do watching TV or when my kids were happily playing around me. It had to be at night when all was quiet.

I'm always amazed at how shawls look when they are on and right off the needles. Blocking with wires is is a new skill I've acquired with venturing out into the world of shawl knitting.

It takes some time to get the wires right and I have a tendency to forget what the pattern's designer wants you to end up with and over block angles. I think it took me well over a half an hour to get this one just right.

I'm not sure who this is for. I really want to keep it for myself even though it was *possibly* for someone else. I feel like it is really a work of art and am quite proud that I actually did it. We'll see. It might be under the tree or (more than likely) wrapped around me.

this moment...

2011-05-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-05-10T23:25:00.001-05:00

Joining Ginny again for the weekly Yarn Along where we post our current knits and reads...
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This past week has been so busy with sick kids, a traveling husband, and nice days to play outside that not much reading or knitting has happened! Well...more knitting than reading I would have to say. I'm a bit obsessed with my current knit, Catkin, as it is challenging and really fun to work on. I'm not used to graphs as I usually prefer to read it line by line but I am really enjoying following this pattern.

Reading wise, I'm still working on Pride and Prejudice and enjoy it (as I always do!).

this moment...

2011-05-05T23:01:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-05-04T05:44:00.000-05:00

With a busy past week, I've not accomplished much in the knitting or reading departments. I did finish the shawl (blogged here) I was working on last week and love how it turned out. I'm still working on the second sock and am getting ready to knit the most complicated thing I've ever done. I hope I can do it! I'm doing a KAL on Ravelry for fun and for help (!) if you are interested in something truly beautiful and unique!

I haven't read too far into my current long read-Pride and Prejudice but I'm working through another - Embroidery Companion by Alicia Paulson. I love Alica Paulson and her blog Posie Gets Cozy. I repainted our bathroom over the weekend (hence no time for much sitting) and am adding sheepy and stitching touches to it. Her book(s) are great and easy to follow, read, and become inspired by. I'm new to embroidery and I really love the homey look of everything Alicia does. Its fits so well in my home.

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following Ginny's weekly Yarn Along where we share our favorite things - reading and knitting!

A first

2011-05-03T18:46:00.007-05:00

It was time for baby Logan to get his first haircut. He was rockin' the mullet a little and kind of the Albert Einstein fuzz.

Our local barber is just the best. The boys love going to him. Apparently, so does Logan.

He has this sweet, little porcelain chair for them to sit in.

Logan sat very still and stoic.

All done and ready to go. He is still the baby - even with a big boy hair cut.

...at least I'll keep telling myself that.

3 hours

2011-05-03T15:29:00.000-05:00

It took me 3 hours to knit a gauge swatch.

This might not be a good sign of how long my next knit will take me. Lots of charts. Lots of stitches. Light weight yarn and little needles. I might not be able to resurface after this one.

Finished Object/Fresh Off! or FO in knitter's lingo

2011-05-01T20:39:00.001-05:00

I finished a large project last night with my absolute favorite yarn colorway - Kelp Forest. It was dyed by a very talented dyer and a great person Leidy of Western Sky Knits. The ladies of Western Sky Knits are my favorite peeps. Sarah, my old cohort, is there now since Tree Frog Knits had to close. So of course it makes them even more special!

I had the hardest time finding the right pattern to use this yarn. It was a sport weight and I had just two precious skeins of it and no contrasting colors to work with. Luckily, I found a simple and pretty pattern by a great Finish designer, Verra, of 100% Rain. She is also the designer of the Stripe Study shawl I recently completed and has many more designs I have my eye on.

I love how this one drapes and stays on. The yarn is dyed to perfection and just is so soft. The colors are so perfect and vibrant, and green!!

I only have one lonely sock in my basket to finish now. A new pattern just came out and I need to do it and since I'm lucky enough to be one of the moderators for the group, I know I'll need to help answer questions. It will be the hardest knit I've yet to do - I'm already nervous about it! Now if I could just decide who it will be for! Looks like Logan and I are heading to the yarn store tomorrow!

this moment...

2011-04-29T14:58:00.000-05:00

In the basket, on the lap

2011-04-26T22:16:00.003-05:00

In my knitting basket this week, I've got a few knits in the works. One is the second mate of socks that I have been working on here and there for the past few weeks. I finished one and now need to get the motivation for making the second one. I can see the appeal of knitting socks two at a time now! I also have a shawl that I'm knitting with my favorite (of all times) colorway Kelp Forest. It has simple, plain lines and I wanted to not mess with any fussy lace so I can just enjoy the vibrant colors. My third knit is A Sun Hat for baby Logan. This Friday my older boys have a class trip to the zoo and last year I came up with this hat for the very same field trip. It was only fitting that I would make it again for him to wear.

On my lap, sans above mentioned baby, are more Magic Tree House books - now on #11 and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and soon to be Jane Eyre by Bronte. Both are free Kindle downloads and with the new Eyre movie coming about and all the buzz about the knits in the movie, I feel compelled to read them again. Maybe I'll have them both done by the time the new movie comes on on DVD - the only way I see new movies!

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Joining Ginny's weekly yarn along!

After a busy weekend

2011-04-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

After a busy weekend, we are slowly getting back to the rhythm of things. Like most of the midwest, we have been hammered by rain. Luckily, we were given Saturday and Sunday almost rain free and we took advantage of it.

Plus, Nathan's parents were here for a scant day and a half - so we were able to take advantage of them too!! Plant shopping and more yard work.

Nathan has put a lot of work into our yard this year. I hope I can keep it up while he is away with work!

All the boys like being outside so much. Baby Logan especially. He points to go outside all day and looks out the window often. I just wish his allergies would be so willing to go out as well.

Easter morning was quiet for us with just morning church service and a day of desserts since we gave them all up for Lent. The boys found their baskets and were excited to play with their new games. We all felt rather ill by the night though. We did a good job of giving up sweets and most processed food and after the weekend of indulging, we all didn't fair so well. Now I just have to get all the junk back out of the house!

Trying to take a picture of all three of them is nearly impossible. Logan has no patience for sitting still and Mason seems to be unable not to look like he belongs in a circus. I finally had to show Mason what he looked like with crossed eyes and weirdo smile. I hope it finally clicked that he is not cute at all that way. At least he tried for me once.

And finally over the few days, I managed to finish a knit. A fresh spring green for my littlest man.

2011-04-22T08:23:00.000-05:00

{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.

Have a safe Easter weekend!

following Soulemama's weekly moment post

In the Basket

2011-04-20T09:16:00.001-05:00

With the weather unable to decide if it should be 80 and sunny or 40 followed by a tornado, my knitting basket isn't getting as much attention as it should (either has my house:) ). On the needles now are a pair of ribbed socks in two soft honey bee colors from Quince and Co and a simple playground shirt on a bamboo blend for little Logan. It stills surprises me how long a pair of socks take on size 1 needles. I swear I knit for quite a while and still it barely looks like I did anything! I do prefer knitting with two 16" circular needles vs. dpn. I feel like I can put it down easier and don't have to worry about such a sharp little needle escaping my basket. I did finish a scarf I had in the basket this week and was glad to see it done as well as the Easter basket I was working on with last week's Yarn Along.

As for reading this week, my boys and I are still working through the Magic Tree House series-#9 now. It has been fun to make all kinds of predictions and my oldest is so in to them. I am just about to finish Yarn Harlot's Things Knitting Has Taught Me and I've been reading through an interesting book about the knitting and textile industry in Ohio aptly named Ohio Knitting Mills.

------------------- following Ginny's Yarn Along weekly knitting and reading posts

Little Lush In Training

2011-04-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

Just like his mama.

2011-04-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

{these moments} – 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. Inspired by soulemama.

Yarn Along Wednesday

2011-04-12T22:15:00.001-05:00

Continuing to follow Ginny at Small Things for a weekly Yarn Along...

After some contemplating and a few auditions of last week's tunic, I decided to frog it and put it away for another date. It just wasn't working like I wanted it to! Since I had freed myself up for that obligation (even though my oldest doesn't have a spring jacket yet), I worked all week on my second ever pair of socks.

They aren't impressive and I don't like the yarn they were made from but they were great to learn from. I'm ready to move on to another pair with better yarn and on two needles. In the meantime, I just realized that Baby Logan does not have an Easter Basket. I'm using this great free pattern and some Malabrigo scraps to whip one up. I've never magic looped since most of my patterns I already have needles for but I needed to with this one. It was finally time to learn and I hate buying needles for project after project-after all-that is what an Addi Click set is for!

Because of the awesome weather and the copious amount of yard work to do, reading took quite the way back in the bus seat this weekend. I'm still pluggin' away on the Yarn Harlot's book, The Things I Learned from Knitting.

Looking forward to seeing what others have in their baskets! I always add to my queue of things to do!

Around this house

2011-04-12T21:54:00.001-05:00

:: total chaos surrounds me

::my house is in a perpetual state of disarray

:: Logan is the Master of Disaster and can disassemble any room in a manner of minutes (usually while I'm cleaning up the last room he terrorized)

:: walking, running, and dashing boys makes for crashes

::I have the powers to get really muddy clothes clean

::I made a new recipe, and it was gobbled up by everyone. I could have eaten it all myself. I used pesto, Italian Turkey Sausage and omitted the cheese (because I forgot it).

::All the above is really cramping my knitting style...but it is worth it (at least I'll say that when the kids are in bed, laundry is done, dishes put away, and I've seen the latest Real Housewives)!