Too early

This morning we decided to brave the somewhat cold weather and go to the zoo. Much to my surprise I saw signs of spring.



The problem is it's too early! February is historically the coldest month of the year, even in an El Nino year. I'm afraid this poor tree will be damaged when the cold weather returns. Until then I'll just enjoy this beautiful reminders of things to come.



I can't tell you how many times I've been to the zoo and never noticed this sign before. I love how it asks visitors to please make a wish on a star instead of throwing coins into the tide pool exhibit.



Progress continues on the Peppermint Oreos blanket.

Using a lifeline

I finally finished the stockinette section of my Bandwagon shawl. That was harder then it should have been. In order to save me the pain of frogging again I've put in a lifeline at the beginning of the lace. I made it through the first four rows of Section A without and problem. I will be moving the lifeline before I start Section B.

I have to go slowly and pay a lot of attention. I really thought this project was going to be easier. Shows you what I know.

Peppermint Oreos

There are two pregnant moms in our play group. Both are due REALLY soon. This weekend I decided to cast-on the girl version. I love the pink and brown color combination. It makes me think of peppermint oreos.

One square down three to go. We're trying something different this time to see if it's faster. I'm knitting the squares and Kylie is doing the edging and finishing. Off to start square number two.

Now the main event

My In the Meantime Shawl has become the main event project. I'm going to have to rip back my Bandwagon Shawl - again. I finished the stocking stitch section, counted the stitches and I swear I had the right number of stitches. Then I started Section A lace. I couldn't even get through the first row. When I ripped back to my lifeline I found not only did I not have the right number of stitches but I had a different number of stitches on each side of the center.

I'm not sure how much more of this my yarn can take. I'm going to rip back tomorrow afternoon. It's going to be my nap and evening time project. I really need to pay attention so I can get this thing done. There's no way I'm getting it done before I see Melanie. We're supposed to get together Thursday evening. Groan.

I better get off to bed so I can have lots of energy tomorrow for knitting!

A few hours

That's how long it took The Boy to conquer this 49 piece 2x3 foot puzzle. I'm not kidding either. I gave it to him last night and handed him the pieces the first time he put it together. This morning he was able to put the entire thing together on his own. He then informed me, "You should probably get me a Thomas puzzle from the store."

Hopefully I can find a more complicated Thomas puzzle.

Today we are all Haitian

The extent of the damage is unimaginable. With an estimated death toll of over 100,000 please help how ever you can. There is Mercy Corp, Medical Teams International and Doctors Without Borders. Just to name a few. Thank you.

In the Meantime Shawl

I messed up big time on the first lace repeat of my Bandwagon Shawl. I have to go back and pick up a row of stitches so I can rip back. I need lots of light, lots of quiet and be rested to do this. That means... it's going to take awhile.

In the meantime, I've cast on another shawl. This is Multnomah in Pagewood Farms Denali sock yarn. The yarn isn't as green as I remember it but I'm still going with it.

It's good to have a simple project around that I can pick up and just knit when the kiddos are busy playing.

Popcorn & tea

This week's favorite book is Princess Hyacinth : the surprising tale of a girl who floated. Yes, that's right. The girl who floated. It's a good story. I won't ruin it but in the end Princess Hyacinth and Boy have popcorn and tea.

So, today for afternoon snack we had popcorn and tea.

Jumping on the bandwagon

2009 seemed to be the year of the small shawl knit with sock yarn. The biggest of these small shawls was Ishbel. Now that 2009 is over I'm casting on!



This is a bad photo but the color is pretty accurate. I'm using Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Sock in truffle. It's a superwash merino with some cashmere in it.

I've put aside my Icarus shawl for a little while. The thin yarn and the tiny needles are just too much right now. Ishbel is the shawl I should have cast on in the first place and I knew it at the time. I just really wanted to use the maroon yarn. The brown of the Serenity Sock isn't what I'd visualized but Melanie deserves cashmere. This shawl is going so much quicker then Icarus. I may actually be able to finish this one is a decent amount of time.

Number One!

The first finished project of the new year! The alligator is done. The Boy loved it for about two minutes. He let me put it on him and smiled. Then he pulled it off, threw on the floor and hasn't touched it since. Ah, such is life with a two and a half year old. I will try again in a few days. I'd like to get a photo of him wearing it. It is all about timing.

I pretty much followed the pattern. I added repeats in the body for extra length. If I knit this again I'd add more rows between the bumps to get the added length. I'd also use a softer yarn. The Morehouse yarn is a little rough for next to the skin. I'd probably use Cascade 220 Superwash.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2009 is gone. What a year! I'm going to keep on as I did last year (bottom of the page). No going to set no real resolutions. I'm just going to continue with my goals.

I want to finish some of my WiPs. I'm going to continue to knit small projects. I'm not even going to look at any sweaters. I'd like to crack into some of my good yarn and make myself a nice shawl.

I hope to get a little sewing done. There's so many great projects out there for kid stuff. I'd really like to make toys for the kiddos.

I need to get out of my dinner rut. I've got to get back into cooking good meals.

And I need to exercise more.

There are my wants, hopes and needs for 2010.

Take care everyone! Have a happy, healthy and fun new year!