Handwarmers times 2

My good friend Mrs. B. has a niece visiting this holiday who is just 8 years old. A sweet girl who I was supposed to see at Christmas. I asked my friend if I knit her a pair of handwarmers what would be some good color options.

Pink. So I went with a bright pink. It seemed like a fun accent color and striped it with a bright purple. I didn't have enough pink in worsted weight to make them and I did not have the time for fingering weight  so I took a quick trip to the LYS and made it out of there with supplies for 2 girls with specific colorway requests. (I'm still working on the other pair for my other little friend).

I also managed to get out of there without buying any sock yarn (pats on the back for me).

The week leading up to Christmas was so busy.

Knitting time was thin. However I found a little time to discover half way through the first mitt I produced was going to be too big. I haven't done this pattern in a while to really consider the modifications. In my mind Small = Kid. duh, Ellen, duh.

Well I had to finish it. Just to be sure. Then I cast on again. 11pm Christmas Eve. LOL 

I finished 1 mitt in time, but I had only finished the cuff of the 2nd mitt 1/2 an hour till we needed to be at our friends' home. But now I have 2 pairs for her. Maybe one for her and her Mom?

The yarn is extremely soft acrylic -- I figure they can be easily chucked in the wash. However I have not knit with 100% acrylic in a long time and forgot how stiff it can be after a  while.

This week at work has been quiet, which is nice in some respect for re-entry, but it's also ... disorienting. To be honest, I am constantly trying to circle back to things and nothing is getting done efficiently. I am rereading the same passages and reviewing the same lines in the spreadsheet. This week is a wash. I will be happy with anything ticked off the to-do list.

I look forward to the weekend where I am going to take some Aleve, sleep and knit, and eat rice and oranges. Well, I do need to go visit Dad, deal with the laundry situation and ...

Get it done to have some fun. xoxo

Wednesday Work in Progress

I finished the first sock of Xmas socks 2017. I got really excited about making some tracks this past weekend, despite all the busy I had going on, alas. I hit a snag.

Literally.

I think bouncing around in my bag things happened to my ball of yarn. I spent TWO night at TWO hours each untangling.

I am now down to this:

Here is a close-up.

I'm irritated.

I sent the image to my friend, Clare. See that's her when she rescued me from another rough day last week where my wallet was misplaced on my day off (fell out of my pocket in a co-worker's car). I had found it at this point so we went to lunch and did our best to feel like all is right in the world.

Anyways, Clare is one of those knitters that loves a good knot. It makes perfect sense. She goes full obsessive over puzzles. I like puzzles and I like yarn, but not like that. We had one knit club meeting where she spent half of it sorting out a ball for me.

Anyhow, I texted her and said, "Tell me the truth Dr. am I going to have to cut it out to resume knitting?" She recommended a little tapestry needle action, maybe dampening the bit if that fails before I cut my losses. (See what I did there?)

How do you feel about the tangle? Do you go beserk? Get Zen? Do you seek out other people's knotted yarn because it brings you such joy to work on it? 

Kathy's Monday Q&A

I started reading Kathy's post and thought, I'm gonna post this one. Then I started reading the comments and started randomly commenting on other people's comments. Maybe too much mint chocolate in me, ha!

Here we go kids:

*Have you asked your kids to do something you wouldn’t do?

I have one kid, but I'm seeing the appeal of having multiple children to make multiple entertaining requests. I don't really think I ask him to do much outside of my own comfort zone except for try not to be nervous about something when I personally have to do a lot to manage my anxiety. I think he's getting wise to my shtick though.

*Do you understand: Football, Bridge, or Cricket?

I understand American and "World" Football aka Soccer. I don't really like American Football anymore, but before anyone out here yells at me, I get why you might. So don't come for my head. A good friend of mine is mad about Cricket and is constantly threatening to rope me in. I told her she will have to wait for my retirement. In the meantime though I do like to check out the Guardian ticker during international matches. I love the NON sport commentary. I think this is what the British would appropriately describe as "brilliant".

*Have you talked to your family about Organ Donation?

Yes. I am a registered organ donor. I know the husband knows. I haven't discussed it with the Kid. I assume he would know that's what I'm ok with.

*Did you knit something that you thought you might not be able to this year? 

I think anything I completed this year. The Fall Knit Along socks have been a big win. It was looking bleak earlier in the year. 

*I-phone or Samsung?

I-phone but I'm sick of Apple's proprietary dominance and I'm not opposed to moving away from it, but I'm still under the impression that the security for the OS and apps is more secure.

*Do you put bows or trinkets on your packages?

I'm team Araignee on this. I loathe wrapping presents. It's never crisp, my ends are always a bit ... wonky. The irony is I love wrapping paper. What? It's pretty! It's like fabric for non sewers! I haven't ribboned in a LONG time, but I like those sticker bows. You know, premade, peel the paper back and BOOM, insta jazzy package.

*Do your pets get a Holiday treat?

I have no pets, but we are known to give gifts to either neighbor pets and/or my Dad's dog, Simba because he's a funny fellow who loves to battle a squeaker. 

*Do you use headphones, earbuds or nothing when you watch something on your phone, computer or tablet?

I use Earbuds with my phone. I used to use these free headphones  with my computer at work (Cans as my budding film maker calls them as they go over your ears). I received them when I ordered a pair of sunglasses but those were STOLEN OFF MY DESK and yes, I'm still bitter about it in case you can't tell. TWO rules people. 

1. Don't lay hands on someone.
2. Don't take other people's stuff. Holy hotpants what happened to common sense kids?

*If you could take a craft/knit/crochet class in January for free, what would it be?

Fair Isle, maybe learn to use a sewing machine? but really, I'd leave some oranges out for the crafting gods if they'd just give me a little more time to knit and organize.

*Have you ever made a traveling knit? (you knit part and send it on?)

No I think I'd be interested in this when I retire if I learn to manage my time better. In general it makes me nervous, this feels like I'd let people down. I can't handle that, ha!

More words and pictures soon. Knit strong my friends. I'm cheering us all on through the end of this year and many more, grateful for the best in all of us.

Happy Holly Jolliness to Each and Everyone of Us.

I was writing a reply to ChrisKnits and a version of this came to mind. My mother is one of those people that makes up her own phrases for things. I think because English is her second language she comes up with what word should work in "her context". She hears things differently, but they feel right she so just goes with it. Obviously other people are allowed to correct her, but not her close friends and family. Obviously we know what she means and therefore a new Momism is coined. (Crate and Barrel will forever be Oat and Barrel for me and my sister.)

Anyways, I'm bringing Happy Holly Jolliness to everyone. Why? Because there is so much chaos, that which is ours, that which is peripheral and we hold all that is good and positive near and dear.

Also I am totally endorsing all cornball holiday jokes, Mom jokes, Dad jokes (that don't involve farts, because despite what America's Funniest Videos is telling you, farts are played out, unless they're baby farts, 'cause that's always gold).

I got some holly jolly in the mail the other night! I came home after a LONG day at work and dragged my butt to get some exercise. I crawled in the front door/gate at 9:15 and there in front of the mailboxes were 2 packages.

One was from Valerie of Wandering Cat Studio! She sponsored a Fall Knit Along raffle prize with Dee from Pointy Little Sticks

Such a beautiful colorway. I love knitting in pink and this give me a bit of a peach blush as well. Good times in store!

The other was from our lovely all around craftslady, Araignee. I received some beautiful holiday soaps and a Penguin cards. Yes, I am fond of penguins, these particularly represent why: small,  chubby = cute, much like toddlers and cats (in no particular order).



Thank you Valerie, Araignee and Dee for being such generous and fun people in the knitting and blogging community!

In knitting news, I have continued to neglect the baby sweater in lieu of socks, because Red and Green themed socks are all the rage. This is me "measuring" while watching the Manchester Derby (pronounced DAR-bee).



I have big knitting plans to keep me in holiday spirits, but there is so much to do! I have 2 dinners this week, a staff work lunch, a school play and some cookies for the school staff cookie box assembly line to bake. Somehow it feels feasible. If I haven't lost my mind I'll let you know how it goes this weekend. ;)

The Wednesday Whatnot

I am here!

I had a good Thanksgiving Week but I worked a lot of it, and I've just worked a lot in November in general. It was a good month though. My sister's birthday, my stepmother's birthday (which I finally just was able to celebrate with her 1:1 this weekend!!) my anniversary, Veteran's Day, The Marine Corps Birthday, lots of things to be thankful for and to celebrate.

And now here we are dipping our feet into December which brings more holiday gatherings, and excuses to eat and greet and shop.

You'll be proud of me. I've gotten a jump on my holiday shopping and wrapping. I do not have an xmas list now, I have an "outstanding" list, which is just of things to remember to get and do. Feels good.

I'm working through most of the holidays. I'm hoping it will be quiet but one never knows. No trip to see my husband's family in Arizona this year, but we will just make the effort to go out another time, maybe for Spring Break or Memorial Weekend. Something more manageable.

Manageable. We talk a lot about goals and positive outlooks and really I hope it doesn't sound defeatist or settling, but that's all I want. I want things to be manageable, the good and the bad. It's another word for balance I suppose in the context I'm thinking of it. Not sure, not worried about it.

Less worrying. I worry too much, let's leave it at that.

I have been knitting. It comes in spurts. You know celebrating and planning for celebrating and working take up a lot of time, sometimes just energy so when I have the time, I sit there like a bump on a log and stare at my little phone.

I finished my Christmas socks from 2016 hehe. Here I am working on the ones for 2017. I'm halfway through sock 1 and it feels pretty good. It's keeping me in the holiday spirit, that's for sure!

Here's a bonus shot of the next day where I'm wearing xmas socks 2015, hehe. That pose is called Knitting chair potato. It's a personal favorite. That's kinda like yoga, right?

Kathy's Monday Q&A

These questions are from Kathy's Q&A. It's been a while since I've participated :)

What is the farthest you’ve gotten on a project this year, only to end  up ripping it out? The yoke of a sweater at the beginning of a sweater. I got lost in where I was in the shaping and ripped it out. sigh.

*Can you remember the most expensive yarn you have purchased? No. I think it's for a cashmere scarf kit for my husband that is still in the stash, but I have a lot of other things I am trying to knit and hopefully he'll be around the apt. a bit. Maybe I'll knit it next year. A scarf feels too tedious to me right now.

*If you  brew your own coffee, what brand do you use? I like a local brand called Blue Bottle that was just recently purchased by Nestle. We often mix it with a coffee my husband purchases for the restaurant. This would be considered a big no no, but I like the blend as I'm not a super strong coffee drinker most of the time, and it makes it last/more cost effective.

*Do you have gifts left to make for the coming Holiday Season? I do. I'm trying to knit 2 baby sweaters. I don't want to talk about it Kathy.

*Thinking about the last week, what was your favorite dinner? We had dinner at a friend's house with 2 other families and there was so much good homemade food. cheese and rice crackers and marcona almonds, steak, salmon, bean salad, Caesar salad, bean salad, peach pie and ice cream. good times.

*What’s your favorite brand of blue jeans? Oh geez, I don't have any brand loyalty right now. 

*You have to give one up tomorrow, for a day : television, computer or phone? The phone. 

*Favorite breed of dog or cat? Oh geez, Can I just say tabby cats? I don't care what color? I like dogs that are small to medium size, maybe a Corgi or a beagle? I was chased and terrorized pretty badly by a neighborhood German shepard between 4th -6th grades and though I love a sweet dog. I am instinctively nervous around stranger big dogs.

*How many blankets did you sleep under last night? We have one comforter and a sheet on right now. I slept in a sweatshirt last night and my husband said he'd put the winter fleece layer on tonight.

Hoping November is off to a good start for you.

November is for Nutkins

It feels really good to have this off the needles. The Nutkin brought my mojo back.

The irony is that I actually didn't love knitting them, especially the first sock. This is not really the pattern's fault. I was distracted a lot during the first sock and found myself having to back out a lot of stitches with dark yarn. The yarn broke and split. I almost ran out of yarn for the first sock due to mishaps and bad judgement. But somehow I finished it.

... and then it was a little tight to get on.

But they seem to have given a little with a nice soak and couple days block.

A lot of people ask if I had gaps or issues with twisting.  I noticed that the pattern was "fiddly" to knit. But I just stuck to the plan/pattern and kept going. If anything, this pattern didn't seem to have much give. It seemed far too tight for a 64 cast on.

Mods:
Long tail cast on.
1x1 rib cuff for 10 rounds.
Magic Loop
Traditional slip stitch heel instead of short row.
80 rounds for leg.

I'm keeping things moving on the needles. I am awfully tired as November comes but we press on. :) Happy Nutkin November to you all!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween you crazy kids!

I hope you are enjoying some treats, whether it's the sugar or the fiber, a party or a moment to yourself. I am supporting good natured frivolity today. (well not only today, but moderation nurtures appreciation)

No, I am not cliche girl for Halloween, but seems like I should be, huh?

I am writing in to let you all know that I finished knitting and weaving-in my Fall Knit Along Nutkins. I woke up and soaked them at 6 am this morning. They are currently blocking because hello, it's 10/31!

I should be able to show my work tomorrow. :)

Something happened this weekend. I feel determined to go into the dark days of winter with a productive mentality. I'm keeping up with the activity -- not as much as last week but I'm getting my cardio in. Also, thanks to the good influence of Bridget I have been slowly nipping away at corners of clutter. The Kid and I went through 2 of his drawers/bins of clothes when I cornered him, We only culled a little bit, but that bit was something to make some space. We went through a shelf in the hutch that had old art projects and old broken crayons and markers etc. We still have a lot, but there is space again. I just need to think, this is okay, I'm going in the right direction.

Wishing you some breathing (and surface) space.

I have thoughts

A good portion of every week is running through potential baking recipes. I bake for both my son's soccer team as well as my recreational slow-pitch softball team that my friend the Canadian Kim got me a guesting spot on when they were short players. I've become pretty regular and honestly, It's really fun to be part of a team sport again.

I'm just catcher and basically get my peripheral vision tested behind the mask as I squint and sweat in the bright sun. (I promise I wear sunscreen). I like it. I wish I was hitting better, but I think in time that will come back, especially if I can get myself to the batting cages. Crap, I might even let Dad take me so he can bark / coach at me and we can relive our youth together. LOL. Well, if we do, we have to bring Sister to complete the nostalgia.

(Still laughing as I picture this in my head, because my family is dorky)

Anyways back to cake. I've been enjoying making this buttermilk raspberry cake, I made it twice last weekend. However I have strawberries that I am trying to use right now, so that's what's being baked later this week. It's simple to make and it delivers. Excellent for breakfast, coffee, tea or dinner parties with a bit of fresh whipped cream.

I did Snickerdoodle Bars for the kid's team last match and I think I'll rotate these into this weekend's game for my team.

Thank you everyone for your lovely encouragement as I worked on my second sock for the Fall Knit Along. I have the knack of the old Nutkin now. I admit the first sock was a little tighter than I was expecting. Maybe a US 2 instead of a 1.5 next time for needles. Surprising for a 64 cast on.

Anyhow, that photo from yesterday was a moment sponsored by overpriced hipster coffee and 45 minutes of such enjoyable knitting post Pilates. I don't get to go to cafes and knit by myself much anymore and it was such a treat.

You know what else is a treat? Reformer Pilates, Holy hotpants it's not a cheap activity, but I do like it. I started it because my back and my foot can only take so much higher impact activity. I now would prefer to run only if I'm being chased, but I won't abandon running completely... maybe.

I am using Reformer along with some dance classes to continue to supplement my cardio at the gym because it makes me happy and keeps my physically active which also is good for my brain. Also all that core and upper body strength the Dr. is always suggesting doesn't seem as daunting when I'm distracted by springs and loops and thing opposed to just my body on a mat. ha!

Have you tried Reformer Pilates? Do you have an activity you can do through the colder months that make you feel a little healthier or stronger? Walking is fabulous, but I always seem to tack a treat onto the end of my walk ;) Whatever it is, if you can, stick with it. Health and Happiness for us all.

Monday

Knitting the fall along. I think I can. I think I can. 

At a pace and an observation on rage reading

A little something: I've been having some lovely weekends. They've been filled with friends and family and it's just been full and good.

The Fall KAL status: Aside from clutching the laughter and burying myself in Mom aka checklist lady mode I managed to carve out a few hours to knit and make some rounds on Nutkin. I decided on a longer leg for this sock. My cuff is at 10 rounds and the pattern itself is 80.

Things were going smooth, but I had some problems at night knitting with this yarn that is dark and shifts colors. I had a hard time seeing my stitches both in knitting and backing out.

I'm in a better place now, finished the gusset on Sock 1 and ready to move on to the foot. I know it's just sock 1 but I remain confident I'll finish in time for the deadline :)

Escapism: I was really tired and my back was aching a bit and just needed to lay there a bit, sometimes knitting, sometimes knot. I revisited the Bletchley Circle series on Netflix. Good stuff.

Trying to read something, anything again: I also finished a book. I KNOW! A real book, not magazines, online articles and tweets! "Do Not Become Alarmed" It's a vacation read. Something that I imagined page turning with hours to spare lining up the next book. I started off intrigued, wondering where it would go. Then it sort of stalled on me.

Last night I couldn't sleep, yet I couldn't knit anymore. I picked up my phone and turned on the kindle app and started reading. I notice when I read a paper book, there is an overall calming effect.I think it's why many of us can read ourselves to a contented sleep. Even if it's something scary or absolutely riveting where I know the potential for me to pull an all nighter is inevitable ... I can give into it. Are you familiar with Harry Potter movies? There is a scene in The Chamber of Secrets where Harry Potter literally falls into a diary. Yeah, that's how I feel. Even exhausted but determined to keep reading, if it's paper, I get into the zone, I cross over.

It appears with digital reading this is not a guarantee for me. I've had positive experiences. But in the case of this book, something wholly uncomfortable happened to me. I got to the point where I was more than halfway through it. I felt like the plot was getting ... redundant. I didn't like the characters. I didn't like most of the children. I didn't like their parents. The people I had some sympathy for were feeling flat, everyone felt flat, except for that bright light I was reading against. I wasn't tired, but I was irritated.

I was determined to finish this book. I wasn't expecting some great literary read from this story. It was supposed to be escapism, but I couldn't be sold. I read so irritated with the book, and so unsatisfied with the ending that I'm not sure if I can tell you my opinion is valid.

But the truth is I feel satisfied I finished a book (and I didn't stay up too late.)

I'm not deterred from reading on my phone either, though I prefer my kindle if I'm going digital. The truth is, I just liked thinking about fake people and fake stories and making the words mean something in my mind. I could use more of that. I think I'm not sure what kind of stories I like anymore.

I Love Fall: The Knit Along

This past year I've read about fun swaps and knit a longs, but I have not been participating. My updates to the blog are much father spaced than they used to be. My knitting has not been consistent. I just haven't had the heart to set myself up for failure.

Dee from Pointy Little Sticks though began to draw me in with talk of a Fall Knit Along. Ariagnee began to stock up on her beautiful fall supplies of all kinds of crafts and well. I was beckoned. The timeline seemed manageable for a pair of socks, even for me!

So here we are. A pair of Nutkins in progress.

I've got 30 rounds of pattern on the leg after 10 rounds of K1P1 rib because I really can't be bothered with the newfangled cuff method in the pattern. I may or may not do the short row heel and 3 needle bind off. I have time to figure out how "experimental" for my own skill set I feel like being.

The yarn is a solid work horse Kroy. However I have struggled knitting this yarn at night. As pretty as it looks in the light, it's gone through some dropped stitch recovery and backing out already. This colorway requires good lighting and reading glasses.

Have you cast on? Are you feeling good about fall?

Weekend Surprise

Friday was a retirement party for my Step Mother. She's the best Stepmother. Friends and family came out to celebrate her. I left work early to make sure I got there in time. (Commuter trains on a Friday in the Bay Area are kinda crowded)

I was whining at the next level to my husband who picked me up from the BART station that I used a commuter train and had no commuter knitting.

Who Am I?!?

I was "repacking" my bag and I think instead of putting my mini knitting bag in, I reached for a cardigan because all knuckle heads carry 2 cardigans for fun.

Being the bleeding heart that he is (which speaks to why my son favors him) he drove me to a A Verb For Keeping Warm and let me impulse shop. What a guy.

It's a treat to go there. Even though the husband works out there, I don't cross the bay that often if it isn't to see family. I stay out of his way at his work on Saturdays. It's horribly busy.

It's a pretty store. Everyone is very nice and super helpful whether you know exactly what you want or you're just beginning a craft.

They have super cute and fancy embroidery threads & pretty modern fabrics on one side of the room and yarn of course on the other side. Right now, I do not allow myself to purchase anything but sock yarn for stash. Everything else must be for a project that I will knit immediately. No waiting, no hoping, no taking up space, no dream changers. There is not space for that. (This tone is mainly for myself not for you people w/o the space and clutter problems I have created.)

Other weekend highlights:
Amazing Food Allergy - I had these weird congested feelings both coughing and my sinuses just totally stuffed up. Weird heartburn like sensation, but it couldn't be food poisoning because no one else was ill. Then my hands started itching. WEIRD. So I took a Benedryl, I think that helped a bit until there was some vomiting involved in the middle of the night. What the heck was that? I didn't eat anything "new". Something must've been mixed in a spice or something that I'm not familiar with or ... it was the dreaded later in life allergy development. Please no. Please no.

School picnic on Saturday. Yeah love recovering from a food allergy incident and then going to mingle at a Potluck. It was initially intimidating, but you know, you fake it like it's all good, and by the time I left I was actually feeling more human which is good because we had reservations later that night at this fancy Chinese Restaurant that's getting all these accolades as my gift to my husband for his birthday. It was delicious, I felt great.

Sunday I swam outside in the real life sunshine. It was magical. I'm instantly transferred back to my youth. I messed around in the kitchen working on a ravioli recipe modifying some ricotta filling I use in a lasagna. Ricotta, frozen spinach, an egg yolk, fresh basil, prosciutto, salt and pepper food processed and then slapped into the thinnest won ton wrappers. I did a huge batch. Tonight is the unveiling. Fingers crossed. Off the top of my head, I think I would add some parmesean to the mix. Meh. Worth a shot as is right guys?

Wishing you the best.

A little bit of this and that.

My moments of nothing are reduced to a few hours in the evening these days. It's not a bad life by any means, but the knitting is just a round or two when I can spare it.

I had a moment on Monday. Always need a pair of socks going, easy to throw in a bag and knit a round when you find yourself with the unexpected moment. These are Skyp socks in Felici. A squishy knit. Not my best work but I'm ok with that.

Please don't ask about the baby sweater ... I'm derailed momentarily. I want to slap my forehead just thinking about it.

We are finding that even on our days off doing something fun, like celebrating my husband's birthday on Sunday out at his mother's we are bringing laundry with us, because we are so behind. His brother teased us, "still the college kids." But hey we live in a 6 unit with 1 washer and 1 dryer. We take the opportunities.

Monday was also the first day of High School for The Kid. He is sooo too cool for me and my "recommendations".

We went and bought him new running shoes and new cleats since we didn't have time before school started. I found out I've had my poor son in shoes a 1 1/2 sizes too small this summer. I'm a horrible mother, I really am.

Life continues with a lot if this and that this first week of school. His soccer practice on Thursdays doesn't get out until 8pm ...

We aren't nailing it, but I think we're ok. We're still getting it done, still laughing and at least we're tired enough to sleep, ha!

The summer check-in

August is upon us and I feel like I was just getting settled into summer.

Since I last posted I sort of barreled through June at work, trying to prep for holiday with my family. My sister, her son, my husband and my son all flew out to Germany together in July to see my parents in Germany.

My husband stayed a week, my sister and I stayed 2 and then our sons stayed 10 more days and my Mom flew back out to the states with the boys last night.

My sister and her family drove down with my Dad and Stepmother to San Diego for my other nephew's graduation from Boot Camp. My mother is flying down to join them. After meeting her bestie out in Las Vegas, Mom will return to spend a few days with each of her daughters before she returns to the Colonel who is working away and already missing her.

I packed way more knitting than I actually got done. (Isn't this always the case) And my mother had a gift for me ... GIANT knitting.

I have some loose ends I'm finishing up in the knitting world before I tackle that! LOL. We will see how this turns out.

This trip to Germany was really relaxing and family oriented. We had our usual walks in the evening and even added some morning walks in the woods when there was time.

We would go bowling on base or play German miniature golf (open 5-8) in the valley. So pretty, there were ponies and sheep just around the corner. We always saw a neighborhood crew of men were never playing but sitting out in the sunshine having a lazy drink and a long chat.

When we were out and about in the evenings we played Catwatch Germany 2017, where we would be on the look out for cats and take a picture of it. We are going to assemble a page dedicated to Catwatch in our photo album hehe.

As usual our parents wanted to take us out to dinner where we had some delicious things, but it was really nice to also BBQ at home. The kids would play badminton or hang out and chat with us. I got to take over the grill. hehe.

On a whim during the first week my mother decided we should take a "day trip" to Paris on the TGV. After she secured seats my husband and I found a really lovely AirBnB in the Marais that could sleep all of us. It was really family friendly especially for one evening and had a nice living space that we could all hang out in when my Uncles dropped by in the evening.

It was a whirlwind, but it was lovely to show the boys Paris at night and run out way past bedtime and walk to get them a crepe and some ice cream. Ahhh Paris.

We also took a day trip to Heidelberg which was a lovely University town complete with castle ruins and a river.

It was a great trip.

I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't already daydreaming about when and where I'm going to knit my next pair of vacation socks -- technically start them, ha!

Wednesday WIP

Proof that I have started work on the neighbor's baby sweater. Still just on the body right now, but the back and forth clickety clack of stockinette is calming and relaxing.

Hoping to finish this up by the end of the weekend and do a little work on my Mojito socks before starting another baby sweater.

What's your Wednesday's work?

A finished knit and some ongoing commentary

I finished Annie's socks a few weeks back but didn't block them and didn't get a picture.

Well here we go. After a few crazy weeks I have a finished knit!

Recently I got side tracked by Bridget's Mojito socks. I was so smitten, I started a pair of my own. Clare was kind enough to gift me this yarn after her last trip to visit the family in the UK. I went with the blueberry waffle because I've been dying to give it a try. It's delivering the fun.

My neighbor's baby was about 7 weeks early so I really must get on that baby cardigan. Time to put away the mojitos for a bit.

In other news, I did not get the new position I applied to. I knew it was a long shot. But I think I'm still a little unsettled in how it has left me feeling -- funny how that works. I think I'll use my summer as a chance to reassess my priorities. I'm not despondent or anything, but I feel much like that weird parenting emotion where you hope your child will do something without being told and yet ... they don't.

Disappointed but not surprised? Slightly irritated, but not dramatic?

On the family front, I'm down to ONE more soccer match for the season. A reschedule from April? I can't remember, anyways. I have enjoyed watching The Kid run around and improve this season, but being team Mommanager has been a little stressful this spring. I'm looking forward to a break.

The Kid had his last day of school on Thursday. It was bittersweet. I keep having these dreams of him when he was smaller. I dream his small voice saying, "Mama! looking for me in the apartment as if it were a huge mansion.

Anyways things are always shifting. Still trying to keep things somewhat tidy. Still trying to not yell so much. Still looking for another hour to knit. Still trying to sleep more.

What are you trying to do these days?

Next post will be cooking and baking adventures, till I have some more knitting to share!