dicamillo devotion

Our library hosted Newbery Award winner Kate DiCamillo Monday night. Our event was a great success - a sold out lecture with over 900 students, teachers, librarians, and parents squeezing into the old church.
Kate brought real life to the lecture - doing an extensive q&a with the kids in the audience.

Afterwards, the signing line was amazing - it went on for two hours. I got some books signed for E and his teachers as well as some gift copies. After the last chair was folded and last stanchion stacked away, our planning team went out for cocktails downtown. What fun it is to get to work on these projects!

rats. i was hoping to be a cafe au lait

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

gala rundown

The Library Gala was fabulous - thank you to everyone who came to our pre-party - we didn't actually take any pictures of the guys who were there. Also, congratulations to Steven and Jim who won the trip to France! whoo ha!
Just a couple of pictures to post as I didn't bother with my camera at the event - too many drinks, niblets, etc to try. I loved seeing everyone in line for the oxygen bar (cold air up your nose - yeah, that's it) and the insanity that was the Moon over Mumbai room - who knew socialites would jostle for samoas? I was a successful sober driver to a silly Tall House, Double Cup - he actually was served a beer glass of rum on the rocks - what kind of drink is that? We did catch a threesome in sort of an odd embrace when the elevator door opened . . . I love the idea of the gala set getting it on in the library - but the actual sight is just kind of creepy.
Tons of money was raised for the library and the Summer Reading program - yeah for us!

runaway french toast sticks

E starred in his first school performance yesterday, "The Runaway French Toast Sticks." Tall House, Double Cup and I were very excited, proud and nervous. THDC manned the video camera while I gave encouraging thumbs up and claps.





I love how in this picture, E has his pants on backwards (they dress themselves after potty breaks) and has his thumbs hooked in his jeans a la Wisconsin farmers - he knows his heritage. When we got home, I discovered his unders were on backwards too!
E knew all of the prompts in the story and was quite animated - though I seemed to have captured most of the frozen moments. THDC and I kept giving each other knowing glances - he is a performer!

After the play we stuck around and played outside. E loves his school buddies very much! Oh . . . we are just such proud parents! E really is love wrapped in a sweet, sassy package!

That night we went to Burgerville to celebrate E's performance and he promptly melted into a fit due to having to ride in my car instead of Papa's, reminding us that he is a real kid afterall.

pedicure socks

I think maybe I've invented something new: pedicure socks. When you get a pedicure and your feet are cold but you can't risk smudging for at least 12 hours (hello, it really takes that long for mine to truly "set"), you need warm, yummy wool socks that will stretch over your toes and then let them free to be happy and perfecto!

These will be my first socks done with two circular needles - I can't believe how cool it is - I'll never go back to double points!

KnitPicks Parade in Forest.

tip toe though the tulips

In the Oregon rain we visited the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn this morning. A great place to photograph E in his new Easter sweater.

bathtub love

peep, peep, not hot, hot

What a time I had trying to photograph this sweater - and actually even wearing it was a bit of a chore. It is gynormous - and totally off on the fit for length, etc. I got lots of compliments on it at work - but I felt a bit like a fluffy green chick wearing it (and I mean the peep, peep kind not the hot, hot kind) and what else can people do but comment on the sweater that ate up library outreach services? I made it with a gorgeous varigated mohair that I bought in Siena, Italy during our trip last year.

The design is from Suss Hollywood Knits. In the original picture, model Kristy Hume is wearing it - and damm, she made it look good. And the pattern made it look easy. But this thing is tough - might have to go for a little wash and dry to shrink it.

arise, martha

Although I am a v.v. faithful martha reader, wacher, critic, and fan, I prefer to read about gardening, crafting, housekeeping much more than I like to do it - only cooking and knitting (and sometimes organizing)really inspire me - but once in a while I find a little project I can't resist. I drop everything, dash off to the necessary store and indulge. That's just what I did today. Inspired by a "good thing" from the April 06 Martha Stewart Living, I manipulated sheets of colored vellum into flowering buds - and it actually turned out! And it was the kind of project I could do while sitting with E watching the end of Toy Story 2. "I like your flowers Mama." E sometimes is annoyed with my knitting, "Put it away, now!" But paper flowers - not an issue.



Here you can see up close my version vs. the inspiration. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. Yeah!

knitting update

Here is the start of E's fall sweater vest that will match Moo's sweater dress. I'll felt it which will help blend the color lines a bit. Made with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes

I finished E's Easter sweater. I am hoping to get a lovely picture of him frolicking in the tulip fields wearing this, but for now this will do. Made with KnitPicks Shine.
I just got Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. I've got the yarn from my stash - now I just need a knit along for motivation.

super pup

We see this chipper pup on the way to E's school every day - it's the highlight of our trip usually. He advertises the local doggie day care and when he's not out on the street, E says, "The doggies are having a home day." "Home day" is the term E's teachers use when Will or Basil stay home with their moms - both work part-time so neither go to school M-F like E.
I do long for home days with E too and don't get them nearly enough. I struggle constantly with the idea of working part-time. On one hand, it would be so lovely to spend more time with E doing this around town that we now have to pack into weekends. On the other, I do love my job dearly and am so good at it - the perfect fit. I also think that what I do is important and I want E to respect my career. I usually know exactly what I want and what I am going to do - on this topic - still torn.

beach fling

We went to the beach this weekend. Tall House, Double Cup and I felt the pull of walking on the beach, digging in the sand, and taking naps. We stayed in Gearhart for the first time - very chic chic - so many beautiful beach cottages.



This was our favorite - the colors were amazing in person and there is even a kid-sized rock climbing wall in back.



We went into Seaside and did all the cheesy things you do in Seaside. E got a hat that looks like a hamburger and THDC bought yet another skull cap. We road on any toy that moved and even ate at a place called "Pig N Pancake." It turned out to be a bit too much fun - E spiked a high fever by 10pm and threw up quite violently. He recovered quite quickly - in time to head back to the beach in the early morning.
In sickness and health - a lovely getaway.

right on, brother

E's new favorite saying is, "Right on, brother." We have friends who call their kids "brother" and "sister" - which became very addictive to us after hanging out with them. The only odd thing is we don't have a "sister" yet - unless you count our cat, which is kind of creepy.
Anyway - to hear E casually spill this one out is v.v. charming - to us anyway.

We decorated our Easter tree tonight. E was a bit disappointed that we weren't using a ladder - I guess my description of decorating a tree sounded more glamourous than it actually was. My great, great uncle always made a Tootsie Pop tree for me when ever I came to visit (South Dakota, 1970's) - I thought it was the most exciting thing - not just because I was a total candy junkie but that it was done just for me. We do so many things that are just for E - being the center of our world and all. I try to make every holiday really count - every tradition big and small. I wonder what will actually make him feel special. He is living such a different life than I did as a child - maybe most parents feel that way about their children.

mr. big goes to the dentist

E's first trip to the dentist was a huge success. We read a dentist trip story a couple time before hand and E was totally cool with all of it. He especially liked getting to pick out a new toothbrush and a prize. When we were pulling out of the parking lot, he said, "I think they forgot my sticker." Dora gets a sticker at the end of the story and even though E usually says no to stickers, he still wanted the offer.

irish love

love was a-blooming at Holy Rosary Church's St. Patrick's Day fest tonight. E's middle name is Moher (as in the Cliffs of Moher - the most beautiful place I've ever seen which also happens to be where Tall House, Double Cup proposed) - so he was really feeling his inner "Irish" today.
















E got a green sword and recruited Marfie and me onto his crew. Moo totally moved her groove thing while the Irish dancing girls were clogging away. The boiled dinner was so-so - with the cabbage being the highlight. E just concentrated on his shamrock cookie while Tall House, Double Cup, Moo's papa (I still need an official name for him), and I focused on our beer. Poor pregnant Marfie could only have a sip and had to revel in the cabbage.

Peg Flanagan (I kid you not on the name) won the soda bread contest. We think Marfie can take her in a heartbeat. Oh - we have big plans for next year. Big, big plans!

projects udpate

I am well into E's Easter sweater. I've wanted to make this one for so long and the pattern only goes to 3-4T so now is my chance. The big star is a bit of a challenge, just because the yarn carry-overs are so long. I hope when I block it, everything will sort of gel.

I am also sewing my own ballgown skirt for the library gala next month. I've always worked the event in the past and just sort of dressed to get by. Last year I vowed to have a real gowny-gown and knew exactly what I wanted. I found the top last year - pink scrunchy silk with a cool green tie sort of thing-y. I knew I needed a charmuese silk dupioni ball skirt to go with it. I took a chance and actually made it and I *think* it is coming out alright. This is a picture of the shirt, hand knitted shawl, and rough cut of the skirt all mushed together.
And finally, we had our super handyman/carpenter create this built-in bench for our kitchen nook. It's painted "Sharkey Grey" as in Kevin Sharkey - Martha Stewart's long time decorating editor. I found perfect silver metal chairs and now I just need to order our 1950's rectangular table with the groovy formica top from Repro Tables and Chairs. I am having a hard time deciding on the top - plain light gray, plain dark grey, or white with the 1950's swirlies. What a great corner that will be when it all comes together!

parade poo

We went to the neighborhood St. Patrick's Day Parade this morning with Marfie, Moo, and (oh, I just realized I've forgotten the name we gave Moo's papa when he was first dating Marfie - I'll have to ask!). It was fun and sweet and got me very much in the mood for St. Patrick's Day. With a bit of planning, Marfie and I could come up with some killer costumes for E and Moo - maybe Corned Beef and Cabbage next year?

E's friend Will and his baby sister Amelia came over last night while their parents went out on a date. E was very upset that Will didn't want to do exactly what he did and was found laying on the couch in the living room saying, "I don't have any friends" while the rest of us were playing in his room - a touch of the mama drama - he truly is my child. But they worked it out eventually and this morning just about every toy was out, played with and discarded. I reveled in the baby love and cuddled with Miss Amelia all night. I think Will helped E to see some of his old toys in a new light - he was game for playing with anything this morning - which lead to a quick two step on his rollerskates. Very brave!

miss monkey moo

I went up to Marfie's today for a quick photo shoot with Moo and her finished dress and baby doll and I swear I met a whole new Moo - she is suddenly a toddler with the energy of a monkey! She is all hugs and kisses and flops and love. Wow! I wanted her to stay a baby forever. Thank goodness Marf is having another baby to satisfy my baby love! Here are some lovely shots of Miss Moo in her felted dress along with matching babydoll.
Dress and Doll: Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks.

i love steroids and antibiotics

I am finally better - I love drugs! Especially steroids! They keep me awake until midnight, enabling some deep cleaning and knitting! I'll be sad when they go away mid-week. It might turn into The Valley of the Dolls in ne pdx.

I finished Moo's baby doll. I just have a slight adjustment to her dress and then I'll be finished with that project. I also made this odd little guy. I was going to give it to my friend having a baby next month but Tall House, Double Cup has claimed him as his own. Both made with KnitPicks Wood of the Andes.

I am also half-way into E's Easter sweater. It's the cover shot from Adorable Knits for Tots.