Quietish

Ooooh, it’s the last day of August. I’m happy. This means we are that much closer to Autumn, and that is a very good thing. C’mon sweater weather.

I had a knitting happy dance last night; I finished my Grandma’s Branching Out scarf. I got done blocking a bit ago and sadly only one photo from the handful I took came out alright:

You can see the pattern pretty well anyway :) I’ll get a Finished-with-acapital-F entry up for it tomorrow or so.

Thanks to everyone who sent Get Well wishes for Callie. The problem is being narrowed down bit by bit and I hope to report that she is indeed getting well soon. In the meantime I’m holding my breath and trying not to think about it more than I have to.

SitNStitch in Norman tonight. See some of you there!

First off, I have finished socks for the boy:

Yarn: More of that Opal “Parrot” that I first used on Jamie’s socks.
Pattern: Nope again. Same as Jamie’s but with a short row heel and anklet-short cuffs.
Comments: I think I’ve had my fill of the yarn for now, but I believe there is still enough for anklets when I feel like going back to it.

I put the finishing touches on something I made for the September swap at Harry Potter Crafts. If you’re my partner and don’t want to be spoiled, avert your eyes now.

Tis a wooden book-shaped box from one of the nation’s uber-large craft stores, painted in a somewhat Gryffindorish color scheme with “Gryffindor” in Mustard Moon stickers from a coupla seasons ago. And a miniature Weasley Sweater with a generic R-for-Ron duplicate stitched onto it. It’ll be in the mail shortly.

Cian has recently fancied himself an artist.

He and Jamie both have been really putting a lot of miles on that Magnadoodle.

As for Callie: Yep, she’s sick. We went to the vet yesterday.

The doc has ruled out a few things, but has been able to narrow down the possible problems quite quickly. There is definately something seriously wrong and we should know more by the end of the week. I have to say that the confidence and competence of a good vet is very much comforting when one’s kitty is sick.

That’s it for now. At the moment I’m trying to decide how to spend my day. Right now its between lots of crunches, or chess. Or both.

Alright, I’m lame and don’t have a true self-portrait for today. But if you were to have the full-sized version of this pic, and zoomed up really close, you might be able to see me in the reflection of her eyes. Maybe. Just take my word for it.

I couldn’t resist posting this sweet picture of my kitty. She is alert and as adorable as ever, but she’s lost so much weight lately and has me worried. To the vet she goes, soon, methinks.

You know what I like least about staying in a hotel?

It’s not the strange-place factor, nor the fact that all they had left was a smoking room due to a Biker’s rally coming up. It’s not the teeny tiny trash cans nor the lack of refridgerator. I can deal with the kids’ cabin fever and I don’t really mind the saggy mattresses. No biggie, really.

I just loathe the way housekeeping tucks the top sheet and blankets in so tight that I can’t feel anything from my neck down. And when I bust a gut to finally get them untucked, the fitted sheet pops off the mattress. I simply cannot stand fitted sheets that wont stay on the mattress. GROWR. I’m a bit particular about my bedding.

Alright, I feel better having posted. And what’s a blog post without some pictures?

The fam at the park last night:

Jamie on a swing at said park:

Cian in front of our hotel this morning (wearing his “Skater shoes”)

when they plan to be locked in a hotel room in the (middle of nowhere) Ft. Smith, Arkansas with little kids and no car for a week.

A: The following…

1. books
2. toys
3. puzzles
4. PS2

Of course.

5. HP and the Philosopher’s Stone for bedtime reading.
6. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess
7. a chessboard

In other words, geeky stuff.

8. Fortunate Traveler

9. Castle Sampler (it’s Justin’s)

10. Jamie’s unfinished sweater

11. sock for Cian

12. Branching Out that they’ve been working on here and there for their Grandma, but had not posted yet.

13. Peacock that is too big to spread out enough to get a good picture of.

and most importantly…

14. their whole stinkin’ desktop because they hate the laptop that is available.

Leaving tomorrow for Ft. Smith, as you may have surmised. I obviously shall have access to email and stuff.

Mom-in-law is in town for a few days and yesterday we took apart my sewing machine hoping to make it work. As usual when I attempt this, it did eventually get working but we have no idea why it is working again. I’m just crossing my fingers it sticks for awhile.

Anywho, Jamie promptly demanded that Grandma make her a bag and Grandma obliged. And then, since I was all pent up, I quickly started on a little project of my own.

“Wee Bunny”, a freebie by Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls.

Cute, eh?

For the Funky Scarf Swap.

(more…)

Lookie, finished socks! Jamie-sized, though. I finished them while we were chilling at the mall in Bartlesville. So she put them on and I took a picture.

Yarn: Opal in “Parrot”
Pattern: Nope. Measured her feet and cast on 52. Did a slip-stitch heel flap.
Comments: Perfect fun colorway for kids, eh? I have started the first of a pair for Cian as well, and will probably have enough for anklets for me. Lots of yardage in those skeins.

And since I finished in the middle of a mall and didnt want to cram my needles into my purse. I wore them around my neck. This calls for a self-portrait, methinks. Purty huh?

I’m one happy fangirl; my Tuesday this week was wicked-awesome.

The Fangirls, along with our new roadie, Mary, attended and participated in Mugglefest, a creation of the peeps at the Norman Public Library.

Mary and I picked up Kelly at the airport

and off we went.

The Fangirls ran a little trivia contest, which culminated in a “Stump the Fangirls” round for the finalists.


And while I only lost points on mere technicalities, Kelly got whooped mightily by our wee contestents. Heee. *ducks Kelly’s flying Blackberry*

The Fangirls also worked in a little recording time. Here we are with our podcaster-hats on just a few feet from Harry and the Potters, who were signing stuff for the line of people wanting to meet them.

Justin slipped in before we all went over to the theatre so we could get a family pic with the guys.

The Fangirls, once at the theatre, slipped up to the balcony to catch the Harrys’ soundcheck

and basked in their own Fangirlishness.

The Fangirls then invaded the bands’ dressing room for an interview but refrained from taking pictures at that point. The awkward quota was already peaked by the fact that they were holed up in a small room with Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Malfoys. From such proximity though, this fangirl can definitely confirm their high eye-pleasing factor. This, of course, is on top of their intelligent, good-natured, and endearing personalities. Yes, even the Dracos.

The Fangirls retook their balcony seats for the show. And quite the show it was! While these guys are normally seen actually playing in the libraries themselves, Norman went ahead and set them up in the aforementioned theatre. I must say, it was a good call; the venue complimented them well.

Minutes into the show, it was very clear that the Dracos are not lacking in skill and talent. The Harrys also continue to grow in their art and their charisma.

This Fangirl had some ATCs to give out in honor of the event.

I had totally meant to get pictures of everyone I gave one of the 24 to, but some of them got set aside for contests. Then again, it may be possible to beg pictures from those winners when the time comes. Anywho, here are some of them:

Of course, Mary and Kelly both got one.

This is Emily. She was celebrating her 8th birthday by doing Harry Potter stuff, and I thought that was cool. So she got a card.

She then won 2rd in our trivia contest, so she got another as did the other winners. I think her dad said they’d be framing both cards. Dude!

Rebecca, the awesome librarian (as if there truly are any lame librarians) in charge of all this Muggle/Wizard activity, and her daughter got a card. So did her daughter’s friend, Lauren. I like to reward the enthusiasm of our fans.

I’m sure you know who else I gave cards to.

The Dracos got their cards when the chaos was over and we were all enjoying a little food and drink. I was a tad too tired and tipsy by then, though, to insist on making them take pictures with bits of cardstock I cut and pasted.

The Fangirls in the end managed not to embarrass theirselves too much and were liked well enough to have a group picture with the objects of their fangirling.

Outward-Rosemary has calmed down (despite her state of not-fully-recovered), but inner-Rosemary (aka Fangirl-Rosemary) is still squealing quite shrilly.

For more coverage:
Firstly, there should be a podcast or two, containing bits of audio and video we got at this event, up at Fangirlish within the next couple of weeks.
Justin wrote a bit.
Katie seems to have enjoyed herself.
Mary gave her account and posted some pics I didn’t.

Another chopped-off pic of me at Gourmet Yarn. There was a Knit-In last night.

And, just for fun, a pic of my sheepie frolicking with Kay’s sheepie.

(Click for a list of the other SPS participants, some of whom are bums and party-spoilers for never posting pics.)