Well Water Yarn Along

Knitting:

The Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood in madelinetosh Well Water. I started this blanket in February, but it was set aside only one skein in. I'm picking it back up today. My (lack of) Ravelry notes are here.

Yesterday, I was able to sneak away from the kids and husband long enough to check out my new LYS. We just moved 2,000 miles and I have been waiting for a chance to get in there. I was pleasantly surprised to see all of my favorite yarns, and I couldn't resist picking up some more Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky. It will become a new hat for my soon-to-be two year old. He has long outgrown his last version, but he keeps trying to fit into it anyway. The alpaca is so soft and wonderful to knit.

Reading:

After a long week of solo parenting, I was becoming less than grateful for my littles. Bloom promised to remind me of my blessings and it has not disappointed. The author is an amazing woman and her writing really makes me feel like I am right there in the room with her. She is a blogger over at Enjoying the Small Things, and her outlook on life is so inspiring. Her daughter, Nella, is born with Down Syndrome after a healthy pregnancy. You can check out her birth story here, but I'd recommend buying the book.

Water and Land

We lost our baby this past Wednesday, November 16th. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy. There are no other words to explain it. Knitting has been my meditation and healing this week, and I decided to put away the things for everyone else so I could knit something just for me. I have been hoarding saving this gorgeous yarn and it was time to use it. "Water and Land" because the color reminds me of the ocean and this shawl is a tangible reminder of a baby that I will never hold in this world, a baby that slipped through my fingers like water. And yet, I have been so supported and grounded by my wonderful family and am reminded daily to appreciate the three wild and crazy children that I do get to hold every. single. day. Oh, and Phin the cat is thrilled that I have spent every waking moment in bed or on the couch. :) My Ravelry notes are here.

Reading? I can't seem to concentrate on that but my fingers are itching to return to The Gift of an Ordinary Day. 

See what others are reading and knitting over at Ginny's gorgeous blog. 

Yarn Along! 

This yarn along is a blast from the past. At this time last year, I started knitting a pair of fingerless gloves for my little brother's girlfriend, Erin. Jess picked out some beautiful yarn and gave me a very good idea about what he wanted me to do. I took great notes and was really happy with the result....one glove. I planned to start the other one right away, but you know how these things go. I am finally ready to pick this project up again...without those helpful notes. Let's hope I can figure this out again. My Ravelry notes are here.

I am also picking up an old fingerless mitten project. I wasn't happy with my yarn choice for this project (WHY did I choose a variegated yarn?) so I have ignored it for a couple of years now. It's time to finish it up. This pair is meant for my mother. My Ravelry notes are here.

Reading? It isn't happening lately. I think I need to switch to books on tape while I finish this Christmas knitting. 

Yarn Along!

The beautiful sweater from my last post is finished and much loved by a wild little girl. I think I should have made the sleeves a little longer, but I went with popular opinion and stayed with this length. I had ordered special Tessa Ann buttons but decided that simple mother-of-pearl was more fitting. Details on my Ravelry page

My other daughter needed a sweater for school so I decided to knit up a quick little Springtime in Hollis in a beautiful red. Disaster ensued. :) This was knitting up quickly and I was sooooo very happy with it. I had started it and then set it aside to test knit the Flar-[y] sweater so my daughter was thrilled to see it moving along so quickly. Well, I decided to be a smarty pants and ignore the pattern recommendation to pick up three out of every four stitches for the button bands. I picked up every stitch, and I wound up with a pretty sweater but the button bands were a bit ruffly. My OCD kicked in, and I decided to rip out the collar and the button bands so I could do them properly. I was also trying to cut corners while I was ripping things out so I went a little crazy with my scissors and actually cut into the body of the sweater. Oh nooooooo. I thought I was going to cry. Luckily, the damage wasn't as bad as I originally thought. I had to frog the button bands again plus the bottom band and one pattern repeat. At this rate, this sweater should be done sometime before my daughter is done with first grade. Anyway. Details on my Ravelry page

I am reading The Gut and Psychology Syndrome and re-reading (for the ten thousandth time) The Stardust Lounge.

I'm off to check out more inspiration over at Small Things.

Yarn Along

This week I am knitting a test knit for a Ravelry mama. I am loving this yarn and this pattern. This little sweater will belong to my middle daughter, Lark, and the color is the perfect shade of blue for my wild little girl. Keep an eye out for this pattern! I think she plans to release it in a couple of weeks.

Reading? I am not getting much reading done right now. We are hoping to put our house on the market in the next two weeks so there is much to be done. Last night, I managed to pick up Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I think I made it to the third chapter before I decided to pick up my knitting instead. It is a wonderful book though!

Yarn Along

I'm finally adding another post and, of course, it's a Yarn Along with Ginny over at Small Things. It will have to be short and sweet because the kids won't allow time for anything else.

Today, I am finishing up a Molly Bubble Romper for a sweet friend's new baby girl who should be arriving any day now. I have been really happy with this simple little pattern and think I'll eventually knit up a couple more for my girls' dolls.

I am currently reading a wonderful book called The Dirty Life and dreaming of living the same kind of life. The author gives up city life in Manhattan to start a farm that eventually runs as a CSA, but provides a WHOLE diet of meat, eggs, milk, fruits, and vegetables. I wish I could find one of those! It would save a TON of driving.

In that same vein, I plan to start Real Food on a Real Budget soon (that's the book that is hiding back there). I am hoping it can help me manage this whole *feeding my family* thing without losing my mind.

Well, back to day number 32 of 100+ degree temps. The Oregon trip is only two days away so I can do this! And here's a photo of Cranky Teel. He is living in a wrap right now and refusing to sleep at night. But that's been the story for almost a year and a half now. Crazy kid.

First Post!

I love following along with Ginny's blog (Small Things), and I especially love her Wednesday Yarn Along. This is my first contribution!

My little brother asked if I would knit some fingerless gloves for his girlfriend because she keeps wearing the ones that I made for him. So, I sent him off to The Shabby Sheep to pick out some yarn. He came back with some super soft alpaca/merino yarn from Rowan. He had a specific idea in mind so I am coming up with my own pattern. I only hope that I can make two gloves that look the same! I keep losing track of my rows.

Time for knitting is hard to come by these days and time for reading is even more scarce. I have been trying to read Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival for what seems like forever. Dallas is experiencing some crazy ice storms so it seems like a fitting book right now. Due to the ice and snow, we have been trying to take extra care to provide for our little birds. They seem to appreciate it, and the girls are enjoying my Sibley book.

And here's a photo of my knitting friend. Truth be told, I'm in Edwin's chair in front of the fireplace, and should be grateful that he doesn't mind sharing.