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.

maybe a little better

After another morning of illness, I woke up from a lunchtime nap feeling . . . well . . . . maybe better. I don't want to jinx it - I just want to feel better. I am back to the doctor tomorrow. Nana is visiting us and she read in the airline magazine about "persistent" cough and how it is socially limiting and leads to "slight ostracisim". great. as if I didn't know.

On the bright side - which I typically try to be on but damm, I'll never criticize a grouchy sick person again - I finished Maria Moo's baby doll that matches her dress. I just need to restretch her felted dress to add about two inches to the length. We missed the window for 05-06 winter holidays so it will now be an 06-7 winter dress. The baby doll is primitive but fetching. I'll post a picture when I have time during the day - if I use the flash, the white stuffing shows a bit through the brown yarn and doesn't do it justice.

E went to see the Harlmen Globetrotter's with his best buddy Basil and the dads. I sent them off with a camera to capture the boys at the game and this is the one picture Tall House, Double Cup came back with. I am not sure how it illustrates his experience, but I like the composition.

head turning, but not in a good way

I am sick. Bad sick. Gross sick. Head turning cough grossness. No knitting. No reading. Just sleeping and trying to not mess up at work too much.

More when all is better.

sort, pre-treat, wash, and dry

It's such an odd but comforting feeling to come home from a long vacation and actually attempt to "catch-up" with newspapers, laundry, mail, crap reality shows, photos from the trip, whatever it is. We got home quite late last night and after making sure E was snug asleep, Tall House, Double Cup and I dove into the piles of catalogs and magazines while watching last week's episode of Lost. 30 minutes earlier on the plane we were tortured with fatigue, but seeing a stack of colorful mail excited both of us enough to stay up - we are weird, but oddly suited.
Here are just a couple of photos from the trip . . .

two more finished knitting projects

Valentine's wrist warmers for Nana in Superfine Alpaca - Winterberry. My second project with cables. I made up this pattern, based on the Irish Hiking Scarf I made in the same yarn.
Manly Girl Socks in Italian silk - I bought this yarn in Siena, thinking I would make socks for my father-in-law or brother-in-law, but the yarn just felt so good to work with - I knew I needed to make them for myself. I finished them in Mexico and while the color and weight hardly match the tropical setting, I do want to always remember the project I was working on during that great vacation.

last night note

Everything today was a "last" in Mexico for all of us. These ten days have flown by. We were all commenting on our last big breakfast as a group - french toast, fresh fruit, bacon, toast, coffee, and fresh juice. Our last afternoon in the pool . . . last margarita (okay - we still have a night of cards ahead of us so I can't say I'd had the last). We are packing up and heading home. And while I am excited to see our house and be in our routine, I hate to say goodbye to this beautiful place.

sniff

just a bit of a burn

E's been so concerned with getting a sunburn while we are here in Mexico. "Do I have sunscreen on? Where is my surfer shirt? Do skunks get sunburns?" He also wants to hear stories about storms and bloodsuckers over and over - not sure about this fascination.

We are still having a great time. Just a couple days left. All of the moms went to the spa yesterday - I had multiple treatments done - and then we sat by the "adults-only" pool at the spa and drank pina coladas and talked about . . . . our children. The dads all went deep sea fishing today and when I asked if they talked about the kids, they all agreed that they had forgotten they had them . . . the clear difference between mamas and papas.

Today a whale was so close to our villas - maybe 200 yards out at most - really fabulous. Some of our friends have seen dolphins in the early morning but I have to confess I've been staying up late reading and spending my mornings sleeping away.

We'll be back soon enough and I'll post lots of pretty pictures.

hola from Mexico

Just a quick post to say hola from Mexico. We are on day five of our ten days away from everything. No sunburns so far but lots of sleep, swimming and reading. E is having the best time playing with the other kids - especially Guapo - and he is the water baby I was hoping he'd be. I've been a bit sick with my sensitive stomach but getting tons of time to sleep it off.
I finished my manly girl socks and have started the matching Moo sweater for E. I taught Marci to knit and I think she's hooked. Yeah! One more friend to talking knitting with.

Must get back to the swarm of kids. We are having a birthday party for Ava today at the rooftop pool. Life is good.

it is love, just love

Sometimes you just can't express it - the amazing amount of love and fulfillment that your child gives you. One moment E is telling me about his imaginary friends (Braado the skunk, Button the rabbitt, Captus the mouse), then he turns around and says, "No more kissing me, Mama," and finally he plays nurse to my cut finger and says, "I'll never leave you Mama. I'll always be here."

Awwwww, man. I am so damm grateful for being E's mama. I am so glad I waited so long to have a baby, so happy his papa is Tall House, Double Cup and so *&^%ing grateful my baby turned out to be E.

catching up

I've been coughing and hacking and all that terrible stuff that you never want to hear out of another person when you aren't sick ever since I got back from . . . . ugh. texas. So I haven't been a motivated blogger. Just to tide me over until I take a picture of my latest knitting project . . .
E and I did bake a fabu dish this weekend. "Blueberry Boy Bait" - from the Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook - one of my favorites. We had our dinner group this weekend and we were dessert. It turned out quite delicious and I will definitely add it to my brunch menus. For dinner, I'd rather have a teeny tiny silver of chocolate cake or scoop of coffee ice-cream.

But E and the amazing Ms. Audrey played together for hours - leaving the parents to be able to play cards until relatively late (for the parents of preschoolers). Audrey is totally gorgeous and so fiesty. When she gets excited, she nips like a cat. I LOVE that.