quickly

I recently moved from Blogger so if you're reading from a feed there or coming from my guest post on Amanda's blog (and thank you if you are!) you can find me here. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

The Cat's enjoying it, I promise.

"{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. If you're inspired to do the same, go to" Soule Mama or leave a link to your moment in the comments.

the experiment

Daughter has a very vivid and lively imagination; which is great...during the day.  At night however is a completely different story - lots of nightmares, lots of coming into our room and lots of uninterrupted sleep for everyone but Son.  After one particularly bad night Daughter decided she no longer wanted her own room and instead wanted to move in with Son.  Husband and I were a little hesitant at first, simply because we were afraid we'd make it into a shared room and then she'd change her mind.  After a week of sleeping on her brother's floor and having no problems going to bed and an easy time going back to bed after a nightmare we moved the bed in.

It's a small room, 100 square feet including the closet and that's probably being a little generous.  I'm not going to lie that I was afraid they wouldn't both fit in there.  We made it work by only moving a select few things from her room, having her clothes stay in her old room, and removing all toys.  

What was once her bedroom is now, in her words, "a changing and toy room."  And it's so nice to have a toy room.  I didn't think I'd like it so much, but it's awesome.  No longer do we have a mad dash trying to clean up toys from the whole house (they're still allowed to bring toys to other parts of the house, they just don't as much) and if I don't want to see the mess I can just close the door.  

In order to give them their own spaces I made her a bunting and moved Son's.  Now they both have one hanging over their beds, as well as a birth sampler that their Great Grandmother cross stitched for them.  One of the fabric triangles is extra from the curtains from her old room.  Just so she doesn't miss it too much.

Putting By

Canning season has begun here.  This summer I think I'm going to do a little at a time as it comes in and then maybe a whole bushel of tomatoes at the end (we eat a lot of diced tomatoes over the winter).  Husband doesn't think a few jars at a time is worth the work, but I don't really see it as work.  Plus I like being able to make what little garden I have last as long as possible.

The other day was tomato sauce, then salsa (pictured above), then pickled green tomatoes, and today will be peach jam.  I don't in general can low acid foods since I don't have a pressure canner (although I want one) and if you're interested in canning I would recommend the Ball Book of Home Preserving and Putting Up (although he uses ph strips which are extremely difficult to find - I never did find them and so I asked experience canners how necessary they were and I was laughed at - the Ball Book does not use them at all).

I give no tips on canning because if it's done wrong it can be very bad.  Don't eat anything that smells off, has mold, or just in general is bad food.  If it doesn't seal refrigerate it and use within a few days.

another day, another walk

We finally had a bit of a cooler period which allowed us to go to the State Park and take a walk.  We tried a new trail this time and discovered a boardwalk.  In some places it even floated (which Daughter thought was awesome).

I loved the walking buddies that I had (Son isn't pictured because he rode on my back) and  all the creatures we met along the way.

It's a special feeling watching my budding photographer in action. I'm truly enjoying watching her grow up and if I do my job right, I know she'll leave the house.  That's kind of the ultimate goal  (don't worry about me too much, Daughter recently told me that her and Son would get a house one street over).

The wild flowers were absolutely gorgeous which makes it even sadder that somebody would throw their can in the water (it was too far away for me to grab and throw out).  I wish for my children the ability to respect and revere nature;  I hope that Husband and I can teach them that.  

finally

I finished The Gardener socks.  Let me just say, what a massive pain in the ass for something that's going on your feet.  Something that most people will probably never see.

I'm not saying they aren't gorgeous; they are in a creepy kind of way.  Unless you love spiders, then I'm sure they might be awesome in all the right ways.

But this vine pattern was so intricate it was almost unbelievable.  There were decreases and yarn overs and cables in almost every row.  On size 1 needles, and they were only on size 1 needles because I went up a size.  

These socks made me so happy that I learned how to cable without a cable needle.  I highly recommend it if you're going to tackle these.  I also left the vine pattern off the foot.  These were made because I was bribed by my mom and I recall making the Hedera socks for her once.  Turns out shoes pressed the lace pattern into her foot and made them a bit uncomfortable.  I firmly believe knit socks should be comfortable.

The details:

Size 1 circular needles, two socks at a time (if you've never knit 2 socks at one time this isn't the pattern to start with)

Yarn used was Knitpicks Stroll in Agate Heather - 2 balls (one for each sock) with some yarn left over

Pattern issues - on Row 28 of the spider chart, you should ktbl of 3 separate stitches (the same ones you created in the row before with the (k yo k) in 1 - I didn't think it was clear and ended up knitting all 3 stitches together and then having to create more with m1 because I was not ripping back).

quiet time

"{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. If you're inspired to do the same, go to" Soule Mama or leave a link to your moment in the comments.

handmade love

In our house, I try to instill a love of handmade items.  Not just because I love them, but also because chances are they'll last longer and I know how much work goes into them.  It doesn't always work with Daughter who refuses to wear sweaters I've knit (although she swears if I make her this and she can choose the yarn that she'll wear it).  Son, however, loves his blanket.  

This blanket used to be my Aunt's when she was a child.  Which means it's 60 some years old.  For it's age, it's in amazing shape.  When it was first given to us (when we had Daughter) it had quite a bit of dirt and stains on it.  My mom had some oxyclean* that I soaked it in and amazingly it came out looking great.  It's an awesome blanket in the summer (especially for these hot nights we've been having lately).  

The images itself were embroidered and then color stained.  I don't remember who made it, but judging from all the knots on the back of it, it must be handmade.  There's also a small pillowcase that fits perfectly on the travel pillow we use in his crib.  That also has a lot of knots on the back.

Whether the image was stamped on or drawn on I don't know, but the detail in the embroidery is pretty amazing.  Plus I really like the vintage image and apparently Son does too.

*Don't judge me for using oxyclean five years ago.

rag bag

I have a favor to ask.  If you leave an anonymous comment (which I totally understand that no everyone has a blogger/google account) and it is about one or both of my children, please please sign a name so that I know who you are.  It's a little disconcerting to wake up to a comment from someone who obviously knows us in real life and not be able to tell who it is.  I need to know if we have stalkers so I can be extra vigilant and possibly never leave my house.  Thanks.

I made a rag bag.  Not a bag made out of rags, but rather a bag for my rags.  They were previously sitting in a cabinet in my laundry room taking up a lot of space that we could use for other things.  This is much easier to get into (they were pretty high up in the cabinet) and takes up less space.  And I used up some fabric.  

Believe it or not, this was my first time making a drawstring bag.  I've never really had a use for one before now.

before the year of sweaters started

My camera battery is charging, so this is a little bit of an old sweater.  It was one of Son's Christmas gifts from Husband and me.  I like to make their gifts from us since Santa and Grandparents bring them enough stuff.  This is the Willie Sweater from Flint Knits.  I used Vanna's Choice and I wish I'd gone with something a little bulkier.  I found that the yarn didn't hold it's shape well, but I chose it because I was low on time.  I may have started this less than a week before Christmas (and by may I mean definitely).  I finished with 2 days to go.  That tells you how quick it is to knit.  I also wish I'd chosen a different color for the collar.  I went with a dark blue because it's what I had and you can't see it.  Partly because it blends in with the brown, but also because the ear is covering it.  

Things I absolutely love about the sweater - no seaming and the dog goes around the whole back.  It adds to the cuteness.  

through the eyes

I sometimes forget that Daughter is growing up.  I miss the days when she was little (although not newborn-for various reasons) but I truly enjoy seeing what she's becoming.  For only 5, she's got a lot of empathy for others, is caring, and beautiful inside and out.

She is also becoming quite the little photographer.  When she was 2 we bought her a little Fischer Price camera (which I would highly recommend) and ever since then she has loved taking pictures.  There are some pretty brutal ones of me that I may or may not go through and delete without telling her.  

We went on a walk last week and Sister handed over her camera for a while.  I was pleasantly surprised with some of the photos she took.  Some were out of focus and not flattering at all, but these three really stood out.  I've no idea if she'll continue to like photography, but as long as she's interested we'll try to nurture that interest.  I think for Christmas she'll be getting a better camera.

walk in the park

"{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. If you're inspired to do the same, go to" Soule Mama or leave a link to your moment in the comments.

Taken by Sister and effects added by Me using Picnik

random thoughts

That bench holds all of our electronic equipment for the television and wii.  The tv is hung high above it and hardly gets used anymore (especially in the summer).  We will be cancelling cable and netflix (just not worth the price hike for us) and relying on Hulu plus, what's recorded on the Tivo, Redbox, and Amazon streaming if we're in the mood for a movie.  I've never been one to be up on the popular shows, so I don't think it'll be a big deal.  Oh, and that's a record player on top - it gets used a lot.  

Daughter has decided she wants to share a room with Son.  She says that Jack (her imaginary friend) is no longer sleeping with her.  I have a feeling she's just getting older and making real friends so the imaginary ones don't show up so much anymore.  She also gets a lot of nightmares so I think she really feels the need to sleep with someone.  To wake up and see someone she loves.  She's slept on the floor the past two nights and it's been great.  We move her bed in Saturday and we'll change up some of the decorations so it becomes their room.  Her room will be waiting for her when she wants to move back.  It will be a toy room until then.

I borrowed the book Above All, Be Kind from the library and I'm already 50 pages in.  It's about raising humane children in a challenging world (that may be on the cover), but it's so much more than that.  It also gives ideas on how to be a more humane person yourself and be a model to your children.  It's what I want to teach my children and what I want to be.  Sometimes I feel like the world is against me on my quest, so this is definitely a good book to read.

WIP Wednesday

This is the bag I use to carry all my knitting.  I know I should have made one, but Husband got this one as a gift and it works so perfectly.  It's all in the simplicity of just one layer of canvas and on the front is a design for NPR.  I'll let my nerd side come out (just in case admitting I carry around an NPR bag isn't enough) and tell you that I saw Liz Lemon carry this bag on an episode of 30 Rock.  I can't recall what season though.  (She's also used the Nina Totin' Bag and if anyone is reading this it would make a wonderful birthday gift).

Enough 30 Rock geek out though, this is what's in my bag.  The Gardener Socks* which are more intricate than I think socks should ever be.  My mom bribed me to make them which is the only reason I'm making them.  One more note about these,  I can not tell you how happy I am that I decided to do both socks at the same time so I do not have to cast on for another one.

The Mud Season Sweater done with Cascade Ecological Wool in black.  This is my stay at home project simply because it's getting too big to drag around everywhere.  Which is a shame because it's a nice mindless project;  it's as simple as the socks above are intricate.  I have to decide in the next 5 rows whether to do the shaping or not.  I'm leaning towards no because I like boxy, shapeless clothes, but it might be nice to have something shaped.  

So there you have it, two very opposite projects on my needles all while showing you my nerd side.

*Rav link

summer days

I am enjoying the summer these days.  At first it started with a lot of children at my house (some of whom weren't mine), but it's been winding down since the real heat started.  We had a massive storm yesterday morning which hundreds of thousands without power.  We are one of the very lucky houses that have power.  There are railroad tracks that divide our town (literally, but there's not really a bad side of the tracks to be from) and I've heard that anything West of the tracks doesn't have power.  I am so very thankful and I've offered people the floor to stay on and my shower to use.  It's the least I can do because I was lucky enough to spend yesterday in the following ways.

My morning started out with a Muppet show.  I've tried to explain that they're called puppets, but ever since seeing that Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, she calls them all Muppets. And she gives Muppet shows.   They are adorable and include numerous stuffed animals. 

After Mr. Frog, Fancy Nancy was also given some show time.  I liked her the best because she has one really long piece of hair that she does tricks with.  The tricks include Daughter swinging her in circles by the one piece of hair and dropping Fancy Nancy to the ground.  But I didn't have to make small talk with Fancy Nancy and I do abhor small talk.

After the Muppet show we were both starving so she made us lunch.  Daughter had a really fancy name for it, but I like to call it yarn soup - she loves playing with my scrap yarn.  Lunch was brought to me (which is probably obvious from the camera view) and really who doesn't love lunch brought to them?

If you're wondering where Son was during all this, the answer is next to me or wandering the living room off of the camera screen.  No worries, our house is too small for him to be unsupervised.

After my sister got off from work we headed North to check on my grandma and see how she was doing after the storm (she's good thanks for asking).  Grandma happens to live in a community with a pool and since it was 90°F out we decided to take advantage of it.

A good time was had by all.  Plus she got her whole head wet (this is becoming the summer of big deals!).

home

Sometimes I look around our house and see how much I've made for the home and for the kids and freak out a little.  It's so much and I never realize it as I go, but when I see it all around, doing laundry, or hanging it out on the line - it just really adds up.

A while ago I made some rugs for the newly finished bedroom.  Yesterday I got around to photographing them.

The mats are just big enough to put your feet on when you get out of bed which is exactly what I wanted.  The bed isn't in the center of the room, so there's not a whole lot of room on Husband's side of the bed, so it was either a small rug or a runner (which I didn't want).  Now we have one of these rugs on each side of the bed.  There's also a nice scalloped edge on it and to my surprise,  Husband loved them.  You know it must be good when the man who tells me "it's okay" for nearly everything says "I really like it!"

The specifics - I used this pattern from Pierrot Yarn.  You need to be able to either read Japanese or read a chart (I chose the chart*).  I used Cascade Ecological Wool in a Natural/Ash marble color, double stranded throughout.  I liked that it would look a bit like a braided rug but without all that work.  I could have probably gone with a K hook, but I chose to use J and have it a little tighter.  I only needed 2 skeins for both rugs and now I have to figure out what to use the other 2 skeins for.  I think Son's going to get a new sweater for winter.  

*Links directly to PDF 

push or pull

"{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. If you're inspired to do the same, go to" Soule Mama or leave a link to your moment in the comments.

The ever important landing strip

Our house doesn't have an entryway; it's just kind of a front door that opens into a living room. This can make it a bit difficult with children and all their stuff. Seriously, why do children have so much stuff? Do they really need 2o mittens? Mittens are a bad example because they actually do need about 20. By the end of the winter it will be automatically down to 2 and chances are they won't be matching. Where do all the mittens go? They're like socks in that way.

But I digress. Since we don't have a specific entryway I had to make one. These are the important things that help my living room stay a little cleaner and my life a little less hectic.

The mail sorter/key holder. Not only does it help me not lose my keys (and trust me you don't want to lose that $200 key to the van), but it gives our mail a place to go other than the kitchen counter. The top one is for important mail (like bills), middle is for the outgoing mail and the bottom one is for Husband's wallet when he comes home (he used to lose his wallet). I'd love to put a garbage can right by the front door for the junk mail, but Son would get into it all the time so I'll wait until he's older.

Right below that are the hooks that we made and the boot/shoe caddy. This is the same picture I've shown before because it's a nice shot. I'm thinking about making a rug for in front of it.

Next to that is an Expedit shelf from Ikea. This holds all the hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, sunglasses, etc. My records and an empty shelf apparently for the cat. I keep it empty so I can continue to buy records, the cat just hasn't gotten that memo yet. On top is typically my knitting as it doubles as an end table for the couch. I love double duty furniture and my house is full of it (well, that and books...we have a lot of books).