Quietish

I spend quite a bit of time thinking about and/or complaining about my lack of time and my inability to do everything I want to do. I’m often frustrated that I can’t keep up with all of my interests. Last night however, I was surprised to sit up and realize that the “regular” day I had been having was actually very productive.

I started the day by trying a new hairstyle with Jamie. Tall pigtails right in front to keep her out-of-control bangs out of her face. Once she was at school, Cian and I got some coffeeshop time as well as knitting time. I had finished some fingerless gloves the day before and celebrated by starting a new shawl project.

The afternoon was relaxed but also managed to not be lazy. When I’m home with the kids I do things here and there, but yesterday I also managed to grab up the guitar and practice a bit several times. I had a cat in my lap or a dog in my lap at various points. Oh yes, fuzzy puppy/kitten time is indeed essential. I also had kids in my lap or sitting on my legs here and there, too, naturally.

I cooked dinner. For the third time this week. I will wait while you regain consciousness.

After dinner we had family TV time (which is actually pretty unusual for us). Pokémon. I cross stitched. CROSS STITCHED, people! I did maybe 2 square inches of stitching in all of 2007. This is huge!

With the kids in bed, I fit in my nightly walk accompanied by an audiobook. I came back and stitched some more.

What I did to deserve a day with more hours, I don’t know. When I spend some time drawing and writing in the next few days I will have everything covered this week. Who knows, I may even feel like I have something to post about.

I have a really full life without even trying too hard. That is exciting to me, and I hope that I can make a habit of not worrying too much about things and letting them happen.

Happy 2008, everyone!

Yesterday Jamie was in the other room drawing pictures (probably of birds) and I could hear her as she began to tell Cian what her picture was about. She said “I am drawing a story” and then told him about the animals in the picture. They could change into other animals. She included crazy, swishing sound effects.

So I called them into the office where I was sewing something and told them a bit about Animagi.

“What kind of animal do you think you’d turn into if you were an Animagus?” I asked, my preschool-show-host voice surprising me.

“A penguin.” Jamie, of course. She has a thing for Piplup.

“A woolps.” Wolf. Cian has not yet mastered the use of the -f- sound at the end of words.

“What would I be if I were an Animagus?” I was sure it’d be “Turtwig!” or some other such creature.

“You would be an owl.”

I’m quite pleased. I’m not sure I would have thought of owls first. Don’t get any ideas. I will not be carrying anyone’s mail.

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Anywho. Nothing new to show on the knitting front. Cian’s sweater has a few inches on the first sleeve, but I’m moving pretty slow.

My brother’s on his way to California and I believe will be stopping by tonight. Must. clean.

Since it’s been so long since we’ve had one. How about a puppy dog picture?

Ginevra, sitting atop the crates.

Well then, it does seem as though I’ve been living up to my blog title now doesn’t it?

This week has meandered by and I can’t seem to recall just what exactly I’ve accomplished, but when I look around it does appear that I’ve done a little crafting here and there.

I have a finished sock and the start of a second. Meet Hermione:

Although I cast her on almost directly after receiving my copy of Favorite Socks, I’ve been taking my time with the knitting. Knowing me however, I’ll probably have a finished pair in the next week or so.

And while I have a finished object I can’t quite share openly yet, I can share what I cast on in it’s wake. I’m making up a yoked toddler sweater for CIC/Care Wool, using leftovers. Having fun with the colors.

This weekend I knit a hat for Amy’s mom so fast, that I didn’t even take a pic of it before dashing off to give it away. Sorry ’bout that. I can tell you that it was purple, and that it was Odessa, sans beads.

Here’s something fun: A coupla weeks ago I got the urge to start something that can be ongoing for as many months or years as suits my fancy, using my sock yarn leftovers. Meet my small pancake stack-like pile of mini granny squares, to someday be sewn into an afghan.

I do realize that this will quite possibly be the ugliest thing to ever be crocheted. To everyone else anyway. To me it will be brilliantly gorgeous, being stitched with bits of my favorite handknits and the memories that accompany them.

I love crochet in a different way than knitting. I think when I crochet it releases a different pleasant hormone; It makes me feel very nice indeed. And I’m quite fond of the use of the little balls of yarn that would otherwise be ignored and eventually thrown out, even if it results in something utterly distasteful to everyone but me.

Since we’re here, how about a nice pic of one of the hobbits learning about what it’s like to be a dog.

As you can see, I still have yet to figure out how to photograph black dogs even all these months later.

seems to make me forget I have a blog. Some quick updates for ya.

1. Yup, Jamie is cute. She wore her hat while waiting for dance class to start on Monday.

2. Ginevra is cute too. Cute + in a basket = even cuter.

3. Someone finally relented and allowed the wearing of the bike helmet. Seems as though this move was worth it.

4. Justin took me on a date Friday. It was to a place that had signs like this:

5. Don’t worry. We’re still alive and happy (and still have all of our limbs.)

dingdingding SPS bonus!

6. We went to Galveston today. The kids had fun building a sandcastle with Grandma and Grandpa while getting more wet than should be allowed this late in November.

7. My fingers have stayed busy. Observe:

More on that later.

Can you tell I just now emptied the camera of this week’s pictures? And that we went out of town for T-day? Anywho, we’ll be home tomorrow night. Catchya later.

Ginevra and Milka seem to have taken a liking to eachother. While Meeper is a meanie and Remus spends his time barking at him, Milka and Ginevra play nicely. And often, very cutely. Here they are playing on the cat-tree-cat-house-scratching-post thing.

but I couldn’t decide on a SPS portrait. So, here’s two.

Me n Remus. Sorta dark. Sorry about that too. But.. its a puppy picture so yay!

Me n Pomatomus sock at the B&N cafe, waiting for my knitting buddies.

While we were out of town last week, the puppers went and stayed with their doggie-Grandparents, Shelly and Kim. We’re very thankful that we had a place to send them that we were sure was safe and loving. (Thanks again, *mwah*)

Remus and Ginevra came home Wednesday night and since they did so well running with the pack -outdoors and in- at their birthplace, we have started transitioning them to more out-of-the-crate time. It is going well of course. The puppies know where the door is if they need to go out, and in the meantime they have fun running circles around the couch and licking the kids til they can’t stand it any longer.

They’re also learning quickly which of the cats dont mind a good sniffing, and which ones are best to stay clear of at all times. I’ve always employed the method of “let them find out on their own” when introducing puppies to the cats that are already there. The cats do the teaching. As long as you’re there to supervise and keep them safe, it is the most natural and quick way to show them what their boundaries are.

So today’s “Learn Something New Every Day” page goes with this theme:

So I went into the yarn store for 2 reasons today. The first reason was that a small group of us were gathering to present a certain special lady with a blanket we’d been getting together for her for a coupla months.

Unfortunately, I don’t have well, any pictures of Susan, or the blanket, or many of the the gals at all. Reason being, miss Ginevra accompanied me to the meeting and. Well. Photography and puppies just don’t mix well. I’ll let ya know when the others who did take pictures, post them. I did get a couple though, when I was relieved for a bit.

They’re blurry, of course. The puppy in the picture almost always guarantees that. Yes, it does make sense. Don’t look at me like that. The camera goes funny when there is a puppy in the frame. But see, now Kay can’t complain that I don’t post enough pictures of puppies. There’s even one with HER in it. On the left. Shelly (the puppies’ Grandma, she says) is on the right.

Edit: Kay posted pics of Ginny.
Another edit: Susan posted pics of the blanket.
Edit again: Kay posted more blanket pics.

The other reason I went into the yarn store is that Jamie has been begging for me to start a sweater for her. When questioned, she requested “hot pink” with “pink buttons.” So I went in looking for a simple cardigan pattern (maybe with a hood) that was simple and not too fussy. No problem right?

Then I saw this:

Sigh.

Everyone (who are now calling me “RoseMolly” by the way. I rather like it.) is sure I’ll get it done in no time. However, on 3.0mm needles, I’m not so sure…

Edit: Swatched. Make that 2.5mm needles.

I have continued to happily knit along on my Ribby sweater. Here it is after 2 balls:

You know I really love this yarn. The texture, the color. Especially the color. Unfortunately, though, I can never get it quite right in the picture. The above it a little too electric to be accurate. Then this picture I took just now in the natural light looks too dull, too sage. I like sage really, but that’s not how I would describe this color. Picture something in between.

That’s where I’m at after 3 balls.

Something fun I noticed though is that the sweater, when laid flat on a coffee table at Barnes and Noble during an evening knitting session, is a lovely backdrop for Lantern Moon sheep. Shelly’s and mine seem to like to frolick together, judging by the way hers stowed away in the knitting bag with mine one time a coupla weeks ago.

So, I’m about to get back to it. Audiobooks (and/or Podcasts) plus knitting equal love.

And a bonus cuteness:

I think they like eachother.

Photographing the puppies remains a challenge, but I know you are all just dying for more pics.

Remus

Ginevra

Things are going smashingly, so far. The kids are enamored with them, and even Justin seems to think they are pretty cool. I plan to work more with them on lead this week, as they really have no clue what it is all about.