WIPs and Bad Hair!

Saturday, Jan 27, was Bad Hair Day at our house. Of course, we have a lot of them, so if you've not yet sent a card, don't feel bad.
I was going to post a pic of my FIL on Christmas morning to show how this phenomenon spans 3 generations, but I promised him I wouldn't (and he threatened to take me out of the will if I did, actually). :-)

Sunday, Jan 28:
A lovely Sunday. I decided to spend as much of the whole day as possible with my son. Morning was lounging on the couch knitting new leg warmers - a more sedate pair for me to have at work when I have to go to big-wig meetings, etc. We took frequent breaks for snuggling.

Took hubby to the yarn shop for a quick trip - had to get him to pick out new yarn for his sweater. It's my first-ever grown-up-sized sweater and the whole thin-yarn-make-cables-everything-perfect thing was making me insanely afraid of even starting the darn thing. The yarn I got him for Christmas was so thin I would have had to use size 4 needles or smaller, and it was kind of freaking me out. We got new chunky yarn and I was even able to cast on and do some of the bottom ribbing last night. Thanks to Knittingbrow for being at the store, wearing his excellent yolked sweater, and giving us Manly Advice on our purchase and my cast on. Smoochies, KB!

But the most fun thing was taking Simon to family swim time at McConnell Heart Health Center where I work out. He resisted the photo of his wet-headed self, but I resorted to begging and it worked. Also, later last night he lost a tooth! He's growing quickly!

My other book group

1-26-07

Here are some of the women in my other book group! I forgot to take a picture until it was almost too late! Tonight we discussed Waiting for Snow in Havanna and had loads of good discussions. What a great bunch of women! I am doubly blessed to have 2 book groups! More than that, though, because I have the KnitWits and I have women from work and women from Home Church, too. Yay me!

Can you tell I'm an extrovert??

Here's to Great Women!

Sunday, Jan 21 - Book Group #1
We discussed After This by Alice McDermott. I was not as taken with the writing style as the reviewer. I found it somewhat interesting at first, but then I started thinking "when is the introduction going to end?" I'm glad I read it, though I am also glad I didn't bother to finish it. LOL


Monday, Jan 22, Baby Gift! I finally finished up the baby jumper and hat for Lucia Catherine. Isn't it darling? I can't wait to gift them! Mom went into labor Monday morning (the day I finished the gift - 2 weeks before due date!) She didn't have the baby til Jan 24 . . . 49 freakin' hours of labor, and no DRUGS! She's insane, but she's still a very nice woman.

Tuesday, Jan 23
To be honest, I didn't really see much of the day that was worth photographing. Very busy at work and so on, so this is my workout stuff. I did manage to get to water aerobics, and I'm glad I did.

Wednesday, Jan 24 (the day little Lucia Catherine was born and officially named and all that - BTW she's the daughter of one of my staff and his wife.)
I spent nearly all day working at my desk - writing evaluations and preparing/practicing for the training I did on Thursday, and, as you can see, eating while I did some number crunching.

Thursday, Jan 25
I trained CPI Foundation for the second time. My partner in crime was Debbie (on left). The next 2 ladies were in our class, and the fourth is a friend who works at the building where we had our class and joined us for lunch. We had a great class! All wonderful women at lunch, too. Very lovely time!

Today might be a picture-rich day as I'm going to breakfast with a friend, then going to knitting group, then tonight is Book Group #2.

I also need to get embroiled in another interesting knitting project. I need to re-buy yarn for hubby because I'm not liking the yarn I have, and I could pick up my tank top again and work on that (what, something for moi?). It's also been a while since I've made anything for Simon, so that's rattling around . . . and I want to make a retirement gift for my buddy Jean, but her retirement is not til April 1, so I have time.

Party Week!

1-17-07

Our administrators brought us lunch! Soup, salad, fruit, veggies, rolls and brownies. etc. Very nice! We earned it back in September when we all participated in the "Steptember" initiative to become more active and healthy. Yay us!






1-18-07

This being Thursday, I did storytime. Here is the stuff I used. Our theme today was eggs. I got to tell 2 of my favorite jokes. First, why do chickens like the library? Because of all the "book book books!" Then, when we talked about all the other kinds of animals that lay eggs, I asked the kids why frogs like the library. Because they like to "read-it read-it read-it"! :-)



1-19-07

Mike and I went out to our favorite place for dinner. Lovely little restaurant called Ba Sho, where we go for sushi. Best we've ever found! Here is Mike's plate of sashimi . . . and Mike, of course.

1-20-07
I cast on the baby sweater at the Merc on Friday, Jan 12. I had been going to make the Baby Surprise Jacket, but I wasn't confident that I understood the pattern's instructions, so I frogged it and started this kimono jacket sweater. Love it! I altered it a bit so I wouldn't have to sew any seams. I did Kitchener stitch across the tops of the shoulders, then picked up stitches for the arms and knit those in the round to the cuffs. It was fun! I'm really looking forward to making a grown-up sweater next.

BEFORE PICTURE: I didn't quite finish the sweater before the shower. I still had to sew on the ties, so I wrapped the sweater and the ribbon and gave that to her. I asked her to open it first, and then while she opened all the other packages, I sewed the ties on.

AFTER PICTURE: with the red ties. Isn't she the cutest pregnant lady? She's a dear, sweet person. I'm so excited that we'll have a baby in our small group! Jheng's mother is going to be arriving in Columbus on Tuesday, from China. She is a knitter, too, so I plan to bring her to the Merc (even though she knows no English, I'm sure we'll figure out a way to communicate). Jheng doesn't knit at all, and her mother knits, crochets and quilts, so I'm going to do my best to spend some time with her!

Jheng also got 2 baby blankets, both crocheted, from other women in our group, as well as lots of store-bought loot. It was a lovely shower!

Meme and pics

1-13-07, Saturday, was my friend Martha's going-away party. She's moving to Kentucky. This is her, holding her new scarf (look familiar?).

Sunday, 1-14-07 I had some ladies over in the evening for a hobby night. We just sat around, knitting or crocheting and gabbing. It was very nice. I didn't take any pics while they were here, but this is one of the candles I'd lit. I've always liked this circle of frogs. Luckily we did no frogging that night!

1-15-07 was MLK Day, and this is Simon at the breakfast we went to. See my other blog for a brief overview of that event, if you like. That afternoon we visited friends up in Mt. Vernon, OH. I call it a retreat center - nice house out in the country.

This is the boys' lego city. Obviously, Simon has fun playig with Tim (the elder) and Sam. They've been friends since they were very young and Megan was Simon's fulltime babysitter (I think he was 3).

Tuesday, 1-16-07 I spent a good deal of my work day at the Main Library in meetings. This is a pic of the atrium. You can see the check-outs down there. I'm on the second of three floors taking the pic. I love how the architects incorporated the exterior wall of the original Carnegie building as an interior wall of the updated/expanded building (dedicated in 1990).

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
Take this http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=20&url=http://www.quizilla.com/makeaquiz.php">Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

Since this is supposed to also be my knitting blog, I have this meme for your quizzy pleasure. I should be working out this morning, but I'm going to go back to bed for another hour instead. Blah.

NAKIE!

The weather outside has been gray, grey, gray. Not very cold today, windy sometimes, rainy a lot, and more gray. Blah. I, however, have had some nice days.

Wednesday, 1-10-07, Simon went to Claddagh with me to meet up with the Wed. Night Knitting Group, a.k.a Sharing Needles. We had a very nice time, Simon drawing and me casting off this long narrow scarf for my friend, Martha (she's moving to KY - the state, not the jelly). It's got a picot edge. It's from yarn I got a while ago and wound into balls and I can't for the life of me remember what kind it is. I think it's wool and alpaca blend, worsted weight (maybe DK?), and I knit it long and sideways on size 7 needles. I got bored and did some YOs and stuff to keep myself interested. I wasn't going to block and flatten it, but I think, now, that it will look better that way.

Thursday, 1-11-07 NAKIE!

I did what I usually do on Thursday mornings - I did storytime! Little Amina (age 3) decided that this doll needed to be "nakie" before and during storytime - it was so funny! Me: I don't think he needs to be nakie - it's chilly outside.
A (with great glee): yes! Nakie! Nakie, nakie nakie! (while taking his clothes off him)
Me: Well, he really should wear a shirt in the library, what with all these people around and all.
A: Nakie! He wants to be nakie! (yes, she was nearly shouting)
What I would have liked to say: Why don't we all get nakie for storytime! LOL
What I really said: Well, his shoes and socks are sewn on, so you can't take those off. Sorry!


Friday, 1-12-07 - Met with Carol E for knitterly fun and chattering galore at Bear Rock Cafe - love knitting on the couch near the fire!

I had cast on and begun a Baby Surprise jacket, but the pattern was confusing me and I need a baby sweater in a week, so I need to put off this experiment until I don't have a deadline. I've frogged this green stuff and I'm going to find a simple, quick knit to be ready for next Saturday's baby shower for Jheng. I'll knit this: http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/pie/pie.html instead. For some reason I can't make the links html stuff work here on blogger right now , so you have the full link. Not as cool looking, but gets the job done.

Finally Winter!

1-8-07 - the cold is finally here, and thankfully, so is my new space heater under my desk! See how toasty warm my feet look?

1-9-07
It's gray and sad in Columbus today. This is due in part to the Buckeyes losing the National Championship game last night. I didn't watch, but I hear that they played a lousy game and deserved to lose, bascially, so there you go. It's also gray because it has snowed a little! See the white stuff?

Jan 6 and 7

Two complimentary hats for some friends - going to send them out tomorrow (Monday). My picture for Jan 6.

Today we took down the tree - behold the emptiness of the space.

1-5-07

I did 3 big things today. 1. I took DH to get his colonoscopy. All clear! He's in great health, that way, I guess! Yay! No pictures of this will be shared.



2. I met up with Knittingbrow for a little knitfest at Panera. Yummy salad, yummy yarn, fun pic.

3. I took dinner and knitting to Carol's house to help her recoup from knee surgery. She was in great spirits as the drugs are still in her system from this morning. Was a delightful time.

All in all a very nice day. Funny that Jerry was knitting blue and I was knitting pink. Too cute.

Pictures for 1-4-07

Another hat off the needles - this one for my buddy, Scott. I need to make a companion hat for his partner, Tony, and then I'll mail them. I really like the colors with black. Tony's will be a variegated yarn with green. We'll just see how it goes!

And this is Rosie, playing with one of her new Christmas toys. Please pretend you don't notice how I need to vacuum.

WIP and Pic of the day

This is the hem of the baby jumper I'm making - my son consented to hold it out flat for the picture. Lovely, soft merino yarn. A delight to work with, but gosh, these 5 inches of plain knitting is boring!

These are the Impossible Socks of No End. I started the ISONE's months and months ago and figure that, given another 10 years or so, I might eventually complete this second sock on impossibly small needles.

My official pic of the day is this - I came home from work after just 3 hours, became a vegetable on the couch through 2 1/2 movies, then played Star Wars for a bit, blasting out little Lego Stormtroopers until I wore myself out. Beside the game of my obsession (and my son's, of course) is my bottle of antibiotics. I will beat this damn bronchial infection!

Jan 2

Simon on the couch. As this is his last day of Christmas Break, I imagine he'll alternate between this aproximate pose and that same look in front of the computer all day. It's good to be a kid.

Picture A Day

I think it will be fun to try to take a picture each day of the year as a sort of record of what one year is like for me. My first day, as you can see, I have 2 pictures. I don't promise to post every day, but I'll try to post regularly enough to not exceed my 5 pictures-per-post limit. :)

January 1, 2007. I spent the entire day knitting. Samwise enjoyed it, as well, as you can see. Yes, I stayed in my jammies all freakin' day. It was loverly. I was going to go join up with my knit-wit ladies . . . but I was feeling raspy in my chest and thought laying around in jammies sounded lots easier.

I worked on several projects throughout the day, including my final (I think) pair of the Socks of Doom for Sock Wars.

You can see the socks, knit from some soft gray stuff that was bought by another warrior and sent along to me. I only had to knit the second sock . . . but I finished my Christmas gifts before even casting on. I can't tell you how nice it is to no longer have that hanging over my head. For those of you who are wondering . . . no, I never received a pair of socks from this game. Ah well, it was a fun pattern, a quick knit. So well did I like the pattern that my FIL's socks were from it, as well.