I made the scarf

You would almost think I made it specifically for Tommy! Oh wait, I did. I have to say that making the scarf was about as boring a project as ever could be, but it was fast and Tommy and I both had fun with the photographs. (Tommy was a very good sport, considering his mommy's obsessive need to take photos of everything). Plus, it does look mighty handsome on my little man, if I do say so, myself. Evidence:

How about that Hawaiian shirt and shorts/scarf and mittens combo? Got to love making this stuff in August. Also, just in case you thought you noticed the end of a knitting needle in the last picture, well you did. I haven't exactly finished the scarf yet, as I did run out of yarn.

Before I go I have to post just one more picture. This one is all about Tommy just being silly. After all, if you're going to take out the wool coat this time of year, you might as well try on a goofy hat as well.

Don't you just love it?

Welcome Grace!

You're finally here! We can't wait to meet you!

Inspiration

I have been wanting to knit a toy kitty for Tommy, but I haven't been able to find a pattern I like. (I'm looking for something that will actually stand up on four feet.) However, I found some other very inspiring things today, starting with this sheep on wheels. How cute is that? I found it at Wee Wonderfuls which is, in and of itself, a fun place to visit. I also thought I might like to make some beaded stitch markers much like these. I particularly like the choice of beads shown. What do you think?

I'm not sure what's next in the project spectrum. I was thinking of making a scarf to match Tommy's mittens, but it sounds kind of boring to me. (I would try to keep it boy-ish and probably do a very simple ribbed pattern.) It would also involve buying more yarn. On the other hand, it sure would be nice if he had a scarf to match. After all, he really liked his new mittens this morning and wore them until it was time to go.

Off subject, Brian made lime chicken with cilantro tonight, and it was delish. He found the recipe in the Mexican cookbook that I brought back from my business trip. It even looked so good that I wanted to take a picture to share with you all, but it wasn't worth the hard time I would have received from Brian for photographing dinner, so I let it go. Sadly I don't think he ever decided whether he liked it enough to make it again. I, on the other hand, was an instant fan. Oh well!

Coffee and Knitting

I kept my fingers on the needles for so long tonight that my coffee was cold by the time I took my fourth or fifth sip, so today's post is really about the knitting. I'm not sure why I mentioned coffee.

In any case, this photo does terrible things to the color of the mitten, but just as I found something white to use as a background the camera batteries went dead, and photographing a mitten just wasn't serious enough to motivate me to charge the batteries. It's supposed to be a deep red. Maybe it will come out better when I have finished both mittens and can have Tommy try them on.

I am sure I will make the other one very soon (probably tomorrow). In fact I made another today but didn't like how it turned out, so I stopped just before finishing it off and started over with my own made-up pattern, which worked out much better. I did offer to add stripes, but Tommy wanted them all red, which was fine. I just hope they fit!

...I know I'm far from it now, but some day I would like to learn the art of Fair Isle knitting and make something like these. I love the look of many of the Scandinavian designs out there. I probably wouldn't have anything with which to actually wear them, but at least they would be pretty to look at while knitting. =)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

I know I said I would be making cookies, but that was before I found this recipe. MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm. Yuuuummmmyy. I just tried my first bite and had to go back for more. It's killing me to wait until tomorrow for another taste. I did make a couple of changes to the recipe after reading the reviews. First, I used a 9" x 13" pan. Second, I used 2 cups of milk chocolate chips. Third, I only used about 5 tablespoons of butter for the topping. When measuring I was easy on the confectioner's sugar and generous on the peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips. I highly recommend you try your own version.

Saturday Sky

I liked the way today's sky looked inverted. Some day after we get more memory for our computer I will use our photo editing program again and play with the other effects. I figure Saturday Sky makes for a good opportunity to play.

Next on today's schedule: Cookies

TV

After about four years without cable we finally decided to bite the bullet this week. The cable man came early this morning. He had to confirm with me that we only wanted the basic lineup, saying he doesn't get very many customers who want just the basic channels, to which I wanted to answer, "Yes, I know. We're cheap." I didn't tell him we had gone without it for so long or that, for me, the extra channels just seemed like a rather large and completely unecessary expense (not to say that I wouldn't enjoy them). We had the basic package in our first apartment together, in New Hampshire (where you couldn't dream of getting any channels with an antenna alone), but when we moved to New York originally, Brian called to try and get the same package and was told it was unavailable. We bought a decent antenna and managed. Then last week we saw cable trucks at our neighbors' and decided to try contacting the cable company again, just to be sure. After all, we were getting tired of fuzzy channels that would occasionally turn blue. As it turned out, not only was the basic package available, but the cost was about $11 a month (with tax) for two rooms, and we would get clear TV and a couple extra channels (that we may or may not watch). Anyway, it's here now, so we can channel-flip to our hearts' delight without having to adjust the rabbit ears in such a way that we can kind-of-sort-of-almost get two channels at the same time; i.e. we can officially be lazy. Woohoo!

Tommy was very interested in what the cable man was doing this morning and watched intently. He asked continuously what he was doing and followed him from the living room into the bedroom, where he watched from the bed at first and then from inside the closet. Yes, the closet. I kept a close eye on him to make sure he wasn't interfering, which he actually wasn't, and the man was nice and didn't seem to mind at all. After a while I heard Tommy ask what Mommy was doing. Then I heard Tommy say, "I don't know what she's doing either!" (Meanwhile I was right by the doorway, watching.) When the cable truck pulled away Tommy watched out the window, blew kisses, and said, "Bye! I love you! Bye!" We really need to break him of that. We keep telling him that's only for Mommy and Daddy, but it never seems to sink in. I suppose it's better than, "Get out! We hate you!" But... it's still not good. We'll continue to work on it.

For now I'm off to play Get Away from the Crocodiles with Tommy. Tommy is using his lego tub as a boat. I think I might have to stay on shore...

A Little Thursday Craziness

The past week has been crazy, hence the not-so-often-blogging. Work is getting to the point where I just feel like standing up and screaming at the top of my lungs every day - mostly because there are times when I want to reach through the phone and shake some sense into people, but then I get to thinking about the fact that it's a phone, and my arm is an arm, and well, one just doesn't really fit very well through the other. So, well, screaming would just be easier. But I don't do that either. Because somewhere deep inside me I do actually value my job and don't want to lose it. Then, too, there's the fact that this is me, and as I've said before, if you know me you know I am not like that. Let's just say I'm a little bit stressed.

I have noticed that it has been almost two weeks since I have made anything - or even taken a photo. I don't know whether it means I'm too stressed to create or whether my lack of craftiness lately has taken away that little bit of fulfilling relaxation that I crave, therefore increasing my stress level somehow. Who knows. All that matters is that I have tomorrow off. And then it's the weekend. Thank the good Lord. (And I do - honestly - thank the good Lord every day. I do appreciate my job, regardless of times like these. Sometimes I just have to remind myself of that a little more often than others... )

On that note I think Tommy and I might head to the craft store tomorrow, or at least raid the cupboards for something we can get completely lost in creating so that we can forget about all the silly little people who scream through the phone without listening to she who is on the other end. And then I think we'll run off some steam outside. Maybe. We'll think on it tonight.

Also, just a friendly reminder to set up your fantasy football draft if you belong to our league but haven't already done so. The draft is set for tomorrow. Don't forget! (I bet you can't guess what I'm off to do right now. )

A Really Cool Picture

(that I didn't take)

I have also added a couple of photography blogs to my sidebar, and hope to research a few more soon.

Plus, I finally assembled a few photos I've taken within the past week or two, as promised. I don't often take the camera out to specifically look for photo opps (except on vacation), but I have to say that it felt good to look for-and find-simple beauties in my own back yard. I highly recommend trying it. (Even if you don't know what you're doing - like me!)

Last but not least, if you enjoy country music click here to listen to a short playlist of songs I found at YouTube. (Clearly I was in a sappy mood when I assembled it... but that's ok, because they're still good songs!)

Have a great night!

Plenty of Blog-Worthy Material

Or at least I think so.

First, I have to welcome my mom and my sister Becky to Blogger. Unfortunately we live a few hours away. Were we in the same town I have no doubt we would spent loads of time together, whether it be watching the kiddos play in the sand box, drinking a cup of joe on a Saturday morning, or even enjoying a few sips of wine on a clear summer night... so I'm looking forward to reading up on all the little things they might post.

Second, whether or not you were watching the Red Sox game last night, you ought to read this. It's funny. Then of course, if you are a Red Sox fan, you probably laughed when you saw this. If you missed it, just go here and click through all of the photos, being certain you don't miss the captions. Of course, while I admit I was amused, I don't think I ever would have taken it this far. Apparently someone is still looking into what might be wrong with the poor bird. Or so they say. Ok, now I have to stop. The Sox are currently down 3-5 to Detroit, and it's on to the bottom of the 7th.

Before I jump back to the game and over to the couch to watch the Hell's Kitchen finale with Brian, I will add yet another epicurious recipe to look over. It looks really good right about now - possibly too sweet for me, but I like the idea.

I will also mention that we have new neighbors, and while I mean no hard feelings to our previous neighbors (from whom we occasionally smelled some ahem "smoke," and who I possibly unfairly think may have caused the thumb-sized dent in my car with their keg) -they were nice enough after all- our new neighbors seem to be very nice. They are a family of five. I'm not sure how they fit into their 2-bedroom apartment, though it is significantly larger than ours. However, they have a daughter who is 9, I think, and she has already befriended Tommy. She taught him how to play tag today. I can't believe Tommy hasn't played that before, but somehow tonight was his first time. Talk about the perfect game for Tommy, Mr. Run Run Run and Run Some More. (I suppose we have played it a thousand times without actually calling it tag or making any rules.) Of course, I played too and was exhausted in no time. It made me feel old to get tired out so quickly. Then again, the little girl (I really need to learn her name) told me I seem like a pretty cool mom, and then I felt better. =)

Ok, time to focus on the game and a little on the show. Thanks for reading!

And we have...

...curtains! I've been putting off buying the fabric for TWO YEARS. I know, it's terribly sad. -I finally bought the necessary materials on Saturday (Tommy picked out the fabric), and I made them last night in just a couple of hours... funny how that was all I needed!

Here they are!

Finding Beauty In My Back Yard

Tommy and I went for a walk today and took the camera with us. Here, a few of the pretty things we saw:

I took many more and will post them to a new album soon. (I only wish I could focus on lady bugs and small flowers, but our camera just isn't that fancy. Well, either that or I'm missing something, because I tried but just couldn't! Oh well.. )

Painted

Tommy and I painted our clay creations a few days ago. Our yellow, green, and blue had dried up, so we had only black, red, and a little bit of white to work with. Tommy painted the kitty, mice, and bowl all on his own. I think he's quite the artist, don't you?

Just in case you noticed the broken tail in the first two pictures, you needn't worry. Kitty is all glued together now and feeling much better. ;)

Have a great Sunday!

Saturday Sky

...on a beautiful summer Saturday-warm and sunny but not too hot, with a gentle breeze...

Thanks for the nice comments about last week's sky!

This One's for Tommy

Thomas the Tank Engine - A Friend In Need



Tommy and I were playing around on YouTube today and found all sorts of cool stuff, like the old Disney classic, The Art of Skiing. Of course, we also found lots of Thomas movies, this being one of Tommy's all time favorites.

blogthings... because I'm tired of watching the Red Sox lose

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

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?

Random Stuff

First, another epicurious recipe, dulce de leche ice cream with fresh strawberries and Mexican chocolate sauce... an interesting concept.

Next, an E-card site worth mentioning: Jacquie Lawson. My mom introduced me to the site a year or two ago and still sends the cards often. Some of my favorites can't be previewed without a membership, one of which was recently sent to Tommy. It is both a greeting card and a kitty matching game. Behind each matching kitty card is another animated kitty, and each completed match reveals part of a background scene. Once the entire background is revealed, a big black kitty saunters in and meows at his bowl. Someone then comes in and pours some milk, and the kitty laps it up. It's simple enough, but it's very cute, and Tommy likes it. Some of the cards are particularly beautiful too. There are some especially nice Christmas cards in the collection. Example here. Of course, they aren't free. That's mostly why I just enjoy receiving them.

Third, my mom sent Tommy some self-drying modeling clay last week, and Brian, Tommy, and I played with it, off and on, for hours on Sunday. We made ice cream cones, kitties, cups, airplanes, and mice. Tommy made his own kitty but later took it apart and asked me to make him one. I ended up agreeing after bed time drew near and he hadn't saved anything that would stay together once dried. We will probably paint them tomorrow night. (The pitcher has a kitty's head over the handle and a tail coming up inside, as well as two mice around the outside. The other things are supposed to be a kitty, two mice, and a little water bowl/dish.) Here they are:

I was hoping to have some quilt progress photos to post too, but while I did piece and sew two quilt squares over the past couple of days, I rushed them and will almost definitely not use them for anything. I do still hope to make a quilt soon, but I want to map it out properly and take my time to do it right. -I will probably just make a wall hanging or something, as I have no need for an actual quilt and prefer to be done with it before my 83rd birthday. I have also been dreaming up a design for an advent calendar since before I had a sewing machine. I just need to purchase the right material and get it all planned out. (I prefer the part where I actually sew stuff together, and all my work starts to look like something.) Another thing I'm looking to make is a simple tote bag for my knitting. I'm thinking something reversible with toile on one side and a complimenting solid on the other. Clearly I have lots of ideas. I only lack only money, experience, and time. Who needs those, anyway?

Saturday Sky

Talk About Babies

We were talking about Tommy's newest cousin tonight during dinner when Tommy responded by saying his new baby cousin is born every day. Brian explained that no one is born every day, but that everyone is born only once and received an "Oh yeah. Everyone is only born one time." I added, "That's right. You were born on March 13, 2002, and now, every year on March 13 we celebrate your birthday." I mentioned that Tommy was born in the middle of the night while everyone else was sleeping - even the doctor, who had to be woken up, to which Brian made a snide remark, saying he couldn't sleep because Mommy was keeping him awake. Ha. Well, Tommy's response was, "Yeah, you couldn't sleep because Mommy was watching TV, and that was keeping you awake." Yeah. That's what I was doing. Watching TV. I mean, close enough, right? Uh, no. However, not worth explaining.

I have a new niece!

My brother Andy and sister-in-law Kara celebrate the birth of Shiloh Lorena, born last night on Kara's birthday! Andy and Kara have now been blessed with five children, and Tommy with his 10th cousin, making him one of 11... (plus my cousin has two little boys, and my Aunt has a little girl and another baby on the way. Her little girl is younger than Tommy, so it is almost like they are cousins... ) And just because I think it's an odd coincidence, our family started out with seven boys in a row, and after that there were four girls in a row. Jessi is due with her third child (gender unknown) in December. We'll see if the trend continues!

...Congratulations Andy, Kara, William, Gurion, Samuel, and Beatrice! Many blessings to you all!