Yarn Therapy
I feed my yarn addictionRedoing Amelia’s Room, Part 1
Amelia actually hinted for a Spiderman room, so I defensively offered to redecorate her room with a Wizard of Oz theme. I don’t have anything against the Webbed Wonder, I just don’t want him on the walls, etc. Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, which Amelia has loved for years, so it is a safe bet.
We put blue and white gingham on the bed and the windows.
Found this cool frame (which Amelia inserted our pictures into) 
We hot-glued “jewels” to a cheap, IKEA mirror to suggest the Emerald City…
…and we glued jewels onto this tin sign 
Other items are in the works, but the majority is done.
There’s no place like home!
Next entry: real life knitting!
Bowling for Noro
Four days ago, it was 19 degrees with 5 inches of snow. Today, there is little left but the memory–it was 76 degrees! Amelia went to her friend’s birthday party at the bowling alley; her first time bowling. Here is an action shot.
Spotsy prefers the couch, although we did take a nice long walk today.
Oh, and I made a Noro Hat. The picture doesn’t do the Noro Kureyon #229 justice, but I am using it again in the next project. I am addicted!
SP13-The Final Installment
My final SP 13 box arrived, and it was very unique. I received a lovely tea set with a tea cup, saucer and plate, some tea, chocolate (!), Burt’s Bee’s Lip Balm, Berroco Soft Twist Yarn, a handmade dishcloth with a tea cup on it, and Amelia’s wonderful monkey slippers! Thanks, Jennifer!
Waiter, Uh, Can I See the Other Menu?
An innocent five-year-old girl approached me this morning when I was barely awake. She was pretending to be a waiter, as evidenced by her fake “deep” voice. Handing me a tiny toy bowl, she proclaimed, “Here is your Fruit Diarrhea.”
When I laughed, she became highly insulted and stomped off. What would Martha Stewart do?
The Best Valentine’s Day…
…with all my favorite things! Jewelry : DH gave me a pair of pearl drop earrings (I had just been looking for a pair online yesterday!) Unfortunately, the pictures didn’t turn out. Have you ever tried to take a photo of your own ear? You’ll have to trust me, they are perfect.
Chocolate: DD gave me some chocolate and a little bear,
but my favorite present was this homemade valentine:
Since this is a day of my favorite things (raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens notwithstanding), it included yarn.
I have been working faithfully on Oblique, non-characteristically sticking to one project mainly because I really want a new sweater to wear. However, Vicki Square wrote in the new Interweave Knits “Knit anything and everything you want…” Well, then! That’s all I needed to hear. I’ve been resisting casting on for more projects, so I queued up two. Pro Bono in Storm Moon Knits Celestial Bulky in the colorway Crocodile Rock is first. I really only have one hat I like to wear these days, so I’m going to enjoy having a new hat.
I know I said I was swearing off green, but I can quit any time I want, I tell you! Please don’t call Intervention.
Of course, the best part of Valentine’s Day is my little sweetheart of a girl. Here she is at her party at school yesterday. Parties are the bomb for 5 year olds.
It’s Not That Easy Being Green; But Not Bad
You Are Mint Green |
 Balanced and calm, you have mastered the philosophy of living well. Your friends seek you out for support, and you are able to bring stability to chaotic situations. You’re very open and cheerful – and you feel like you have a lot of freedom in life. Your future may hold any number of exciting things, and you’re ready for all of them! |
A Belated Thanks to My Secret Pal 13
I don’t blog when I’m in a personal crisis, so a belated thanks and apology to my Secret Pal, who thoughtfully sent me a package that arrived last week.
I enjoyed: two balls of Lion Brand Wool in a soft green, a note pad with green, leafy decorations on it, two packages of cocoa mix and a little box of life savers. A good pick-me-up.
Thanks, Pal! Looking forward to the reveal.
Four Paws Up for “Hotel For Dogs”, a Feel Good Movie
Today, we went to see Hotel For Dogs. Mainly, we thought our 5-year-old daughter would like it, given that the previews showed lots of dogs running and having fun in an old hotel with some kids. DH and I were pleasantly surprised that the film had a decent story line with lots of great elements: kids in foster care saving dogs, sticking together for each other, and the social worker (played by Don Cheadle) saving the day (my favorite because I am a social worker!).
Some of my personal favorite parts featured the little boy’s inventions for entertaining and taking care of the dogs, and the duo of Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon as the clueless foster-parents-aging-rock-star-wanna-bes (The more dashes the better!). My one and only criticism is there were NOT ENOUGH DACHSHUNDS, but it didn’t ruin the movie. I won’t spoil the ending for any of you, but if you like dogs, go see it!
The Latest
You are looking at the latest knitting in progress. It is the second sleeve from Oblique from Knitty. I love this pattern more and more as I knit it. I also love the yarn I chose: Cascade Eco Plus in a rich red called (ta-daaaa!) Valentine. Love it.
I decided to fake myself out and begin the sweater with the sleeves since I hate doing sleeves. For some reason, when the body is finished, I feel done, so the sleeves are always a tedious chore. They always take longer than I expect. So far, starting with the sleeves has been a welcome change, and by the time I get to the body, I’ll have the stitch patterns down pat. I’m probably delusional thinking I might get this done by Valentine’s Day, but it is fun to try anyway.
Check out my cutie patootie garden gnome stitch marker. He is one of four, from Wee Ones on Etsy. She does the most wonderful stitch markers out of Fimo. I am having her make me some dachshunds (of course).
Courageous, optimistic, and successful.
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