"you just have to do your dreams"

Wrapping Up

2012-01-31T12:10:00.000-05:00

Our home is a flurry (well, a relaxed flurry because I don't want to do anything that will put me on bedrest) of moving preparations.
We're busy packing up. Pictures and photos are down and boxed. Most of the books are packed away. Children's clothing is being vacuum-packed and stored. Toys are being boxed (as much as possible. At least, baby toys are.) Yarn and fiber stash is boxed (but not sealed...) Lists are being made. Moving companies of various forms (like Pods, movers, etc) are being contacted. Realtor is coming in to start assessing things. Final appointments are being made for vet care, dentists, naturopath. Stuff is being listed on kijiji.
All in all, we are preparing to move back to Winnipeg. In less than 2 months time.

Wool soakers galore

2012-01-26T10:03:00.000-05:00

I recently started working through some of my stash crocheting wool soakers for the twins. Each took me less than a day.

Size small and extra small (had to make up the latter pattern)

Small pair of longies in yarn that the kids dyed a while back.

Go Bombers GO! (coordinating pair of small soakers)

And while I was going through the stash checking for a wee bit more blue or gold for the Bombers soakers, I found two wee balls leftover from my pink and brown shawl to whip up this small hat.

Twins Update

2012-01-17T14:04:00.001-05:00

I got the ultrasound results today. Plenty of 'interesting' things to share.

Firstly, the twins are mono-chorionic and di-amniotic. That means they share an outer sac, but have their own amniotic sacs. The first part is new news. It also means they could yet be identical.
As you already know by now, they are both girls.
And we knew from the first ultrasound that they have a fused placenta.
We also knew the placenta is anterior (in the front).

Baby A, on my right, who also sits lowest (they are both head down) is slightly smaller in weight at 270g. Her sister is 348g. Baby A also only has one umbilical artery rather than 2. But they tested for flow through it and such and all looked good. Everything else is "normal".
Well, except for my right ovary which apparently has a couple of cysts. *sigh* Must be to go along with the cyst in my liver (also on the right).

I'll need to talk with the OB next month to know more and ask more questions from a specialist. (Today I met with my midwife.) Yes, I'm sticking with my current OB for now. In fact, even if I stay I'll stick with her because she is good at what she does and she's easy to talk to - which is why my midwife recommended her. As for the delivery, if I stay here, I'm as likely to have another OB on call when I deliver as her. I've also been informed (by the OB via my midwife) that I could consider driving out to McMaster Hospital in Hamilton for more options (available because of the level of the hospital and the fact that it is a teaching hospital with a lot more staff on site - particularly anesthesiologists). But I don't think I'll be considering an hour-long highway drive when I'm in labour, even if I catch myself early.

Anyhow, we'll be keeping an eye on the twins as they develop. One important thing to watch for is that they continue to have similar growth rates.

So, will they be identical? - We don't know. I'm rather hoping not. Robin and I are rather hoping it will be easy to tell them apart. There's not really any way to know for certain without expensive DNA testing. They could be fraternal and still look very much alike. So, time will tell.

*UPDATE* Later in the evening I had a chance to actually look into what monochorionic 'means'. It means they ARE most likely identical. And are more likely to have complications because they share so much. And with one having only a single umbilical artery... I really need to call my OB so I stop freaking out....

Abi and I popped in to Michaels today because I knew they had a sale on scrapbooking stuff and some stickers etc on clearance prices. I think we did well. I got two scrapbooks, plus extra inserts, plus about 40 loose sheets (in pairs), plus stickers for $35. Anyone who scrapbooks or who has looked at scrapbooking supplies knows that this was an incredible savings! It helped that I found a small selection of scrapbooks on for just over $3. Otherwise the two scrapbooks, even at 40% off, would have cost about the same as my final total. I picked up two coordinating floral design scrapbooks. They're not "baby" colours, but I wasn't planning to buy pastels or such or anything designed for "baby girls". I did have a lavender and a purple pair of books in the cart before I found these. They were all the same brand of book.
Now I'm ready to start prepping baby books. I already have a collection of pages I put together years ago designing an earthy-birthy baby book. The twins' books will be slightly different since I'll actually have to include more medical stuff than I'd imagined needing/wanting for my next pregnancy.
The first pages will have pictures from the pregnancy and the growth rainbows I'm tracing every week. They'll also each have a copy of the ultrasound photos. Then there will be pages from any blessingway / shower events before their birth. I'm also going to prepare some pages with blanks I want to fill in. You know, things like "first laugh" and "first crawling" and so forth. All those little firsts that we like to record. And, of course, spaces for pictures, hand and foot prints, locks of hair, remembering gifts and guests and visitors, and so forth.

Ultrasound Photos

2012-01-16T13:32:00.001-05:00

The news is.... 2 girls!
Unfortunately, after over 2 hours of ultrasound scanning I only have these 3 poor photos to share. :( Our first set of photos were better.

Baby A - it's a girl

Baby B - another girl

The babies (not great capture) - sisters

Baby A is on the right, and sitting lower. Baby B is on my left. So, reorient the pictures 90 degrees clockwise in your head.

The Day the Saucers Came

2012-01-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

In September I gave this reading at a friend's wedding.
Enjoy (while you wait for ultrasound updates).

It is a poem by Neil Gaiman titled "The Day the Saucers Came" and I refused to tell the bride and groom what my reading would be. They liked the surprise.

Yarn Tasting... shhhh

2012-01-15T16:58:00.000-05:00

I spent the afternoon at a "yarn tasting" / "yarn roundtable" event hosted by Knitty and Shall We Knit?
Good times. Good company.
Unfortunately, the first rule of Yarn Club (at these events) is that you can't talk about yarn club*. So you'll just have to wait for the next (spring) issue of Knitty to be released.
*Clearly this is an exception to the usual rule that we knitters love to talk about yarn and our projects and share plenty of photos.

There is another exception to the usual rule... when you want to get a pattern published by a big-name publisher (magazine or otherwise) you generally don't share details before it's been accepted and published. The twin shawls I'm working on would be an example of this. I'd love to submit them to Knitty. However, I would have to re-knit them in a warmer yarn for a fall submission (I missed the summer submission date of Jan 1). And yarns that are not discontinued. The yarn I pulled from my stash fails both of those tests. I won't mind knitting them again. The current projects are not in my colours... and yes, they happen to be pink and blue but that was ONLY because those were the yarns I had available in my stash with sufficient quantity to play with designing.

Speaking of pink and blue for a twin design.... we get to see the babies again tomorrow and will hopefully learn the sexes.

Wee Hats and Bigger Hats

2012-01-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

After knitting my Juneberry Shawl following Christmas, I had a wee bit of the lovely Briar Rose yarn remaining. It took me a few days, but I eventually realized I should knit a newborn hat with it! So I did. And when I was finished there was still a tiny bit more remaining, so I knit a complimentary hat using it for stripes. The blue is Cascade 220. The second ht is deliberately NOT IDENTICAL. In addition to being striped, I added an i-cord knot at the top. Alas, this purple-y yarn does not photograph well (with my camera and poor lighting).

I also had this bulky Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky that someone on Ravelry sent to me (emptying their stash) when I was buying some fibre from them. This whipped up quickly into a hat that I had no intention of keeping (really not my colour), but Abi insists it is hers. It's big for her.

This is my hat, but Abi's a cuter model (especially in her fairy outfit from Santa). I had bought this delightful Misti Alpaca yarn many years ago when a local yarn shop was closing. I had two lovely hanks and one became a cowl for Abi with some of it being added to her blanket.

The pattern is called Cute Snail Hat and is actually written in Japanese. However, the symbols are standard for knitting and enough Ravelers have worked on it that there are plenty of helpful instructions in English if you search the projects. I showed off my hat at the local Knitters Guild meeting on Tuesday and had a lot of people admiring it after. It's fun to knit because it's a simple parallelogram knit flat with alternating stockinette and reverse stockinette. The long sides are seamed up and one end of the 'tube' is pulled together to become the top. Simple and cute. It can also be more slouchy if you don't roll the brim.

Snow Day - not today

2012-01-12T14:08:00.000-05:00

We did get a wee bit of snow after Christmas. Just enough to go tobogganing.
(click to embiggen)

I stayed at the bottom of the windy hill while Abi and Robin made several trips up and down. After Robin realized (silly Robin) that he was a wee bit too big for the toboggan, he would follow Abi down. Correction, first he tried to stay ahead of Abi, and ended up causing her to crash into him a couple times before he realized that he was causing more harm than good. I was simply laughing and shaking my head below. In the last photo she ended up in the grass - the perfect stop if you ask me. As for there being other people walking up the slope that Robin thought to 'protect' by running ahead - I'm sorry, but you have to expect this on a tobogganing hill. Half the people there kept walking up the middle of the slope anyhow! Sheesh. There sure are a lot of foolish families.

Kicking confession

2011-12-30T21:54:00.001-05:00

I have a confession to make.
I should begin by saying that I don't often feel the twins moving about, although I know they do. I don't feel it much because they're small yet (15/17w) and their (fused) placenta is anterior (in the front) and 'pads' most of it. Sure, I feel discomfort when they are pressing on organs, etc, but I don't feel it often along my belly. I'm most likely to feel movement while lying on my side - so, at bed time. They're movement is mostly internal. Robin had his forearm across my belly the other morning and I felt a series of four kicks, but he felt nothing.
I'm sure all that will change in the nearish future.
Which leads to my confession.
In the past couple of weeks I can probably count on one hand the number of times I really felt the babies kick. I mean, leg-must-certainly-have-protruded-out-of-my-belly kicking. I've never been looking at my belly at the time. I'm sure nothing actually protrudes. The point is, it feels like they kick a hole through me. Yes, it hurts.
And so no, I don't think to myself "aww, how sweet, I can feel my babies kicking! I can't wait to share this with others who will put their hands all over me."
Okay, even without the last half of that statement, I'm still not feeling the kickin'-love like I did when Abi (not her name when in the womb, but we'll call her that for the sake of simplicity) would kick. I seem to recall those being lovely experiences. The "aww, my baby is moving" experience.
Instead, I think "OW! Stop that!" and then I think "Crap, this is only going to get worse." (Except I don't say "crap". I'm trying to be polite.)

There's my confession.
I don't love my babies kicking me and attempting to punch holes through my body and making me hurt.

UPDATE: Of course they decided to kick me quite a few times last night. And this morning one was pressing a foot against my belly. With some probing I was even able to feel the foot (no, it was not protruding). Abi was with me and says she could feel it too when I guided her fingers to the place. Unfortunately, each time Robin tried to feel the foot, it was removed.

Didn't make the 11 shawls in 2011 cut

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

A few of my projects didn't make the 11 shawls in 2011 cut for various reasons.
There were those I had started in 2010, like my Sapphire Evenstar, finished in time for summer weddings this year. I blogged about it a few times this summer.

And the Tiger Eyes stole (that's a wide scarf that can wrap about your shoulders or be worn like a scarf - for those who requested an FAQ) I knit for my mom.

Then there's the wee little infant-sized shawlette (ie, shawlette on an infant, not shawlette for an adult that nicely fits a kid) I whipped up for fun out of my head.

This was a failed design attempt that I finished and promptly frogged (took apart).

As was this:

This Baktus I simply didn't like and frogged at the end.

And this Milo I will start again with enough yarn to finish it. Until then, it's waiting to be frogged.

Others I simply started and never finished. Such as this Green Geoui

And this Takenoko stole.

And this giant Freya shawl that will eventually be a gift.

Then there is the second attempt to knit up this handspun (see failure above). I'm not sure if it will be a circular shawl or blanket, but it needs more yarn. It's my own make-up-as-I-go wheel of the year design.

Last, but certainly not least, are the large lace shawls I started this year and already mentioned because they have taken a lot of my knitting time. Neither will be finished by the end of the week, but they should be done in early 2012.
Around the World - which was a mystery KAL so I couldn't finish before all the clues were released anyhow - has another 50+ rounds to go, at the edges. That's a lot. Plus those rounds contain a lot of nupps and beads. This is a really old picture and I'm well past that point, but you get the idea.

And there's my baby. My own design that was also released as a mystery KAL. Tread Softly.

I've been admiring some beautiful finished versions by my KAL members. I really need to get back to working on mine.

Plus, of course, there are the blankets and hat and scarves and socks and mitts and doll and what not that are not shawls...

11 Shawls in 2011

2011-12-29T17:20:00.001-05:00

Once again, I participated in the Ravelry group challenge to knit 11 shawls in 2011. Easy-peasy. I was done back in April, but that didn't keep me from knitting more. And yes, I'll be working on 12 in 2012.

Here's a recap of the shawls I knit:
(note, links are to Ravelry project pages)
First was my Delight, using some purchased handspun yarn I bought myself for Yule (I bought myself a lot of yarn last Yule....)

Second was a crocheted gift I called Dusk.

Third I apparently still had a crochet bug and made something for myself using the small talk pattern.

Fourth was another gift - Ethereal Jade.

Fifth was yet another gift -a Traveling Woman using yarn that Abi dyed.

Sixth used up a variety of yarns that Abi had dyed, so she'd have her own shawl.

Seventh was me testing my own design before the designated tester could even start. This one also became a gift - my Verdant Hatchling.

Eighth was another green project, this one a seemingly endless stole. My Green Embrace.

Ninth was my Battle-Weary Dragon shawl.

Tenth was a Blue Geoui I gifted. Another crochet project.

Eleventh was this Rainbow Delight.

Twelfth was an Indigenous shawl still in need of an edging.

Thirteenth was a summer mystery KAL shawlette that I gifted to Abi's midwife.

Fourteenth (this is my first time systematically counting them since I finished 11) was a bridesmaid shawl knit on behalf of my friend. A lovely Echo.

My fifteenth shawl was knit for myself using my own handspun for another Dragon Hatchling.

Sixteen was yet another Hatchling shawl, but this time for a gift.

Seventeen I whipped up for a fundraiser using some lovely handspun to make a 198yds of Heaven.

Eighteen was a second bridesmaid shawl before leaving on vacation.

Nineteen was a purple boneyard shawl that I knit on the road and literally finished in the dark. I donated it to a fundraiser also and didn't get a photo. But my aunt won it, so eventually I imagine I will.

Twenty was a test knit of Carménère for the designer who is always one of my favourite yarn providers. This was knit on vacation.

After that I got caught up in two mystery knit-a-longs for huge shawls. The first is Around the World the other is my own design of Tread Softly. Neither are finished - in part because they are huge but mainly because I experienced knit-aversion during my first trimester.

However, in the last few days (Dec 22-28) I squeezed in two final shawls for the year when I found my shawl mojo again. The patterns were gifted to me, so I was inspired.
Twenty-one is my Briar Berry.

Twenty-two is Cassandra (crochet).

That's my year in shawls. I have a few.

Yule Greetings

2011-12-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here we were last weekend at a Christmas party. Alas, the loving hands on my belly obscure your view of it. But you already know how big it's grown from the last post.

This morning we exchanged Yule gifts. They're always hand-made, but not necessarily by us. My hope was to have Robin's fingerless mitts finished, but that knit-aversion earlier in the pregnancy put a damper on my holiday knits. Fortunately I had a back up gift in place - a lovely clay bear ornament from the local Stitch N Kitsch show. I received a gorgeous pottery mug - part of my SFA* gifts from Robin and I have to say, I'm pretty excited to see the rest in a couple days.

Abi received her hand knit doll, who she named Priscilla.

I was in the middle of knitting her (the doll) a hat from handspun yarn when Abi awoke. It was to be the surprise in her countdown calendar.

It's a warm day here. No snow for us this holiday season. In fact, it's so warm I'm thinking I might even get out and plant those bulbs, finally... Imagine, planting bulbs at Yule!
And by 'plant' I mean toss them in the garden where I dug out the bush and cover them with more soil. Nothing fancy. Just a pile of daffodil and tulip bulbs that were scattered around the other garden spaces and finally dug up this fall.

*SFA = "super-f'n-awesome. That was my Christmas request this year.

Growing

2011-12-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

I didn't think my belly had grown much...

Apparently I was wrong. On the right is my growth in one week. The first line is from last week (13/15w) and the second line from today (14/16w).
On the left is my belly growth with Abigail. I only measured every 2 weeks. The first line marks 12/14w. The first shaded in area (red; not to be confused with the orange next to it) marks my growth over the next 2 weeks (to 14/16w).
(Click on picture for larger view)
Wee bit of a difference between these pregnancies.

Tomorrow is my next midwife appointment.
And I've decided that, as part of our family Yule celebration, we're going to try some birth art. Don't expect pictures - unless Abi wants to share hers.

Taking Stock of Baby Stuff

2011-12-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

Hauled out all the old bins to take stock of baby stuff.
Carriers - check.
Baby leggings - quite a few and now have some 'boy' styles too - just in case ;) Abi still wears hers.
Diapers - where'd they go? I'm missing most of my covers and quite a few other diapers. Like all my AIO pocket diapers (but I know who has those smaller ones. Just have to find where the larger ones are hiding). Regardless, I'll need more. A friend just tipped me off to a giveaway going on by her favourite diaper supplier AMP diapers. Good timing for a reminder as I start looking to my supplies.
Change pads - got them. But where's my favourite purple change pad? And the stars one? Where's my stuff???
Baby monitor - still got it
receiving blankets - I've got a few. Maybe half a dozen...
Clothes - handed down what I had kept (my favs) to sis and can get those back. But even so, that was just a small selection. And mostly very girly. Also will need a lot more in the NB size.

Annoyed with myself that I can't find stuff... grrr.

Also annoyed with myself for not yet having started tracing the belly growth. There's plenty enough of it to trace.

Nausea? What nausea?

2011-12-10T14:21:00.000-05:00

It dawned on me today that I must be free and clear of the first trimester - because I don't feel nauseous!
It's a wonderful, wonderful feeling.
Also makes me have to be more diligent about eating because there isn't a constant reminder that food and I have a close relationship right now.
And not eating is a bad idea.
I still need to keep up my energy -- baby-growing energy. Got to put on the weight - for two wee ones.
Fortunately, last time I weighed myself at my weekday workplace I was still on track gaining good weight. I'm counting my weight gain now from my pre-Abi weight because that's my 'normal' weight. The BFing weight was lower (by just over 10lbs) and once I quit BFing I think it was rather inevitable that I'd gain back those few pounds to what had always been my 'normal' weight (and which, incidentally, is supposedly an 'ideal' weight for my size - which is why I've never fretted about my weight and never had to 'workout' or pay particular attention to my diet, besides nutrition for nutrition's sake. I digress.).
Anyhow, last time I checked I was up to 152lbs and that was over a week ago.
And the belly keeps growing.
But I've yet to start tracing it! Bad, bad me!

As for my first trimester aversion to knitting, I know that I can knit stockinette or garter because I'm just finishing up a Yule doll for Abi, complete with dress, undies, shoes... You'll see later. It's in hiding and I don't want her to accidentally see it on the computer.

I haven't tried my hand at lace yet. Finishing up some simpler projects first that are overdue. For example, Robin just reminded me that I was knitting fingerless gloves for him. I'd put them aside in the late fall once it became obvious that he wouldn't e needing them for biking for another 6 months or so. Weather got too cold for fingerless hand coverings. But I said I'd finish them for Yule... yikes. Time to finish those doll shoes and then find the gloves... in the black hole of knitting stuff that is my former office. That black hole is coming in handy right now to hide gifts.

Oh, and I'm starting to feel guilty about not having prepared any sort of holiday cards this year... as cards start arriving here. Every year I tell myself we'll do it, and only occasionally do I get around to writing cards. (Note the usage of "we" and "I".)

Speaking of preparations, I'm quite proud of Robin this year. He's out shopping for my Super-F'n-Awesome gift right now (that's what I asked for). Yes, and it's not even Christmas eve! There's weeks left until Yule and Christmas. Clearly I need to ask for a SFA gift every year to get his butt in gear. As for the rest of his family... sorry folks, but I've made it clear to Robin that I am not taking on responsibility of doing ALL the gift work. At this time of year I've got enough to worry about gifts for my family, nieces and nephews, BFFs, and my local crew of friends (since I've accrued quite a few awesome folks in my life). I've got cookies to make for potlucks and cookie exchanges. Ornaments to make for ornament exchanges... and far too much knitting to do. Which, by the way Robin's family, if you ever want something knit you just have to ask and I'll consider it. At the very least it will make gift-planning easier even if it (a large item) takes a few years. We have time, right? (My family knows this.)
I haven't even mailed out my gifts yet... la dee da...

Back to laundry.

Santa santa santa

2011-12-09T20:02:00.000-05:00

We attended a second Santa Claus parade this past weekend. Alas, it was a rainy, rainy evening. Only a fraction of the scheduled floats made an appearance and a few townsfolk. But Abi and her friend had fun. We parents enjoyed it too, but not nearly as much as the kids who didn't seem phased by the downpour of rain. A benefit of the shortened parade is that we didn't have to be out for too long.
Luckily, Robin had also prepared a couple thermoses of hot chocolate and a fresh mini batch of cookies.
We've taken to baking mini batches of cookies lately in the toaster oven. It's great - fresh cookies whenever we want. It started with some store-bought dough, on a whim. Now we make our own cookie dough. AH, the joys of having a toaster oven again. We hadn't planned on getting a new one (the old one died not long after moving to this house), but there was a great sale and our region recently switched to time of use rates for power. In the Winter, that means peak costs are during the dinner-making hours and breakfast. (7-1100h and 1700-1900h.) A toaster oven saves a lot of energy! It's great for the basics like toast, or baking up some perogies, a small batch of fresh-from-the-oven cookies, little quiches...

Oh, but I was typing about Santa.
So today Abi and I ventured out to the mall at the far end of town. She was excited to see Santa. She dressed herself up in a nice dress. We trimmed her bangs. We popped into Zellers on the way to see Santa so she could have nice white tights (rather than the argyle pattern - since all of her current hand-me-down tights have bright designs) for the photo. She spotted Santa as we made our way to the ladies room to change and she was eager to see him. She loved the fairy garden surrounding Santa.
And then I was entering our information so Santa's elves could email our (thankfully) free photo to us and she decides she doesn't want her picture taken with Santa. I sat with her (unprepared for a photo myself!), but still she refused to even look up or smile. The kind elves did their best. And luckily there was no lineup before or after us at that hour.
This was the best of the bunch.

Happy Holidays.

Pete Bear

2011-12-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

This is Pete Bear - aka Baby Pete.
This is Abi's favourite toy. And I have no idea why. I bought "Pete" (then Ian...) when I was a teen, at a garage sale, for 25c.
I thought he was cute and classic looking.
I made him this bonnet. It was one of my first crochet projects. I made it up as I went.

It's shaped perfectly to fit Pete.
Pete is old. He was old when I got him. He's older yet.
Now, when Abi was born I made her this sweet little bear with dreams that it would be her favourite teddy.

This is Miss Kaylee Koigu. (Kaylee from Firefly; Koigu from the expensive yarn used.) It was also one of my early knitting projects - when I first learned about LYSs.
Later I knit this doll. Her name is now Sophie (after a friend made at the airport).

For a while this was her favourite. But Sophie does need her arms fixed. And somehow Pete interceded.

Why the name "Pete"? Good question.
The first Pete toy was this Groovy Girl. It was the first of her toys to receive a name. Most of her toys don't have one. Dolls are "girls" - and NOT "baby". If someone asks about her "baby" she'll look at them like they must be crazy because clearly the doll isn't a baby. She'll then correct them that it's a girl. And doesn't have a name.

One day as we were driving to daycare, with this doll which was a temporary favourite, I asked (cheekily...) if the doll had a name yet. Much to my amazement, she came back with a name. Pete. I laughed. She didn't understand why I thought it funny. I figured she'd forget. But no, the name stuck. Pete was the name of her daycare provider's husband. I knew they would find it hilarious.

Her daycare provider had also given her this baby doll, which was another temporary favourite.

It doesn't have a name.
But none of these toys were ever long-term. She was always fickle with her favourites. Until Pete Bear.
I laughed when she named the bear Pete. Once again, she was not impressed that I should find his name funny. It's his name after all! Of course, what I found funny was that she would name a second toy Pete. She's tried naming even more toys Pete, but I've explained how confusing that will become.

That's the story of Pete Bear.

Where'd my Be-Bo* go?

2011-11-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

Last night I discovered my cute little belly button has disappeared - transformed into a large bowl valley in my tummy.
I think that's a good indicator of how these babies are expanding...

I also learned yesterday that my aversion to knitting during this first trimester is not unique. Apparently most of my knitting friends had an aversion to knitting at this point too. It seems weird to me, still, that just the thought of an activity would make me more nauseous. I'm pretty sure I was knitting at this point when pregnant with Abi. I remember I started a small baby blanket (and I was very new to knitting then) just to have some focus and reminder of the pregnancy because I couldn't 'feel' anything. You know, because in the early months you don't feel movement, etc. But maybe I didn't get started until second trimester...
Regardless, I've had to force myself to at least work on the knit-a-long design. But any plans I had for Yule knitting have been tossed.

*"Be-Bo" is a tiny hippo's way of saying belly button, as per the Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton. Not that I'm a hippopotamus. But if I were, I'd at least like to think that, relatively speaking (compared with other hippos), I'm a tiny one.

Baby Bump and Christmas preparations

2011-11-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

Here you go folks. The (almost) 11/13 week baby(ies) bump.
Feeling better lately. Not nauseous all day. More on and off.
Abi's also feeling better.
Nothing exciting to report - other than some folks around here are eagerly anticipating the Grey Cup this afternoon. I'm not sure which is more exciting - the game or the food and beer. (No beer for me of course, but I'll happily partake of the food.)

(Photo taken at a Christmas ornament exchange party last night, which is the only excuse I can grant my friends for having their tree up already!)

Abi is eagerly anticipating Christmas this year. She drew a photo for Santa and dictated a letter for him. The first item on her list is a flashlight - so she can go camping again. Bath toys (in particular another soft kitty and a rubber duck) and dollhouse toys are also on the list. I think Santa can deliver.
Santa also sent her a video from the Portable North Pole.
She's also decided to make Santa a gift - because she thinks he deserves it for making so many gifts for others.
That's my girl.
I reminded her that Santa really likes milk and cookies and that we'll also leave carrots for the reindeer.
I'm not sure how early we'll set up the tree this year, but I did make a countdown calendar for her with poster board and paper pockets that will hold stickers and little gifts like a silly band bracelet. We'll use the stickers to mark the days that have passed as we count (from 1 to 24).

Heartbeats and hot kid

2011-11-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I listened to the babies' heart beats. I recorded it so Robin and Abi could hear since they did not come to the midwife appointment with me. (Working on being able to upload the sound file to share.)

My blood-work all came back good - good amounts of good stuff and no bad stuff.
The ultrasound report still hadn't been sent over (really folks at True North Imaging? It had been a week. And the office is in the same building). It was faxed over quickly upon request. In the meantime, I was able to share the U/S pictures with the midwife, because I had thought to bring them along :)
The report itself was both informative and laughable. Babies look good - same size, etc. (3.7cm from crown to bum.) As I already overheard, two sacs are visible and the two placentas have fused into one. Plus the placenta is anterior. But there were all sorts of numbers of weeks and days thrown about as estimates, with the final "conclusion" estimate being "about 11 weeks 4 days" (that was last week) - seemingly an average of the other numbers. Emphasis on "about". Dating ultrasound fail! Anyhow, they're off by a few days early. My date is right :P I know these things - trust me. So we're keeping the EDD at June 5. Of course, it's not as if I actually expect to go to 40 weeks term with twins. Certainly, if I get to 40 weeks I'll be the one saying "get these babies out of me!" Or, so I assume... I wasn't that way with Abi at all, but that was one baby.

Just finished convincing Abi to let me take her temperature. She is/was quite adamant that she is not sick - even though I could feel she was hot in the middle of the night and still was hot to the touch when she woke after 10am and came downstairs. 101.4*F in the armpit = fever. Not that she'll admit to it. Day of rest prescribed by mommy. Hoping nothing further develops... she's got a good immune system that typically fights off any virus quickly.

I couldn't help but record and share her stubbornness. For everyone who thinks she's always so sweet and happy... this final agreement on her part comes after a much longer period of arguing with me and making that funny dismissive sound of PFFFF. She likes that sound. Clearly, informing her I thought she might be sick was the wrong approach, since she's convinced she is not and therefore I must be wrong...

(Don't mind me - still in my housecoat etc in the morning. Didn't want to wake Abi early.)

Santa came to town

2011-11-19T17:07:00.000-05:00

This morning we excitedly attended the local Santa Claus parade. (I shall refrain from complaining about how early it is for such a parade.) We missed the local Thanksgiving Parade, much to Abi's disappointment. She was very eager to see Santa. We arrived early and waited a while (with yummies from Matter of Taste cafe).

At last it began. Abi was shouting Happy Christmas throughout. Literally. Or singing Jingle Bells.

She wanted her picture taken with this beaver float.

Finally, the man himself drove past.
When asked what her favourite part of the parade was, Abi replied Santa Claus (of course) and all the treats she got. She was so eager and smiley that I think all the people handing out candy stopped to share with her. (No, they didn't stop for every kid. Kids next to us certainly did not get much if any.) At one point, students from WLU were walking past, Abi shouted Happy Christmas and as if rehearsed, about a dozen students said "ahhhhh!" - and then gave her candy.

So, this was our favourite part:

Reality check. And baby book(s)?

2011-11-17T10:06:00.000-05:00

I've had some time to think more about baby travel, and realize I was talkin' crazy when I thought I'd need a double stroller. Aside from the inconvenience of those things and the CRAZY prices (at least for a decent, less cumbersome stroller), I really don't need it. However, I will admit that a simple singleton stroller with a fully reclining infant seat will be needed. I can baby wear one and push the other (when I'm not wearing both - side by side or front and back). And Abi can freakin' walk like she does now. We don't have a stroller for her now, so why would I add one? If we're going on a long hike, I won't be doing it alone, which means Robin will be there to help with child transportation. Yeah, so thinking of a double stroller with a child board or such was just crazy talk. Please ignore the freakin' out in the aftermath of learning about the twins.

However, I do have a creative dilemma. How does one prepare a baby book for twins? One book? or two? Right now I'm thinking DIGITAL. If I keep/prepare a digital baby book, with digital photos, I can print out two copies without actually having to work on two books. That way, one day, each child will have a comparative record of their first year(s).
For Abi I had a formal baby book and a second scrap book filled with photos and blessings from events, footprints as she grew, etc. I was already planning to create something that combined both of these for this pregnancy. I'll just have to scan in the blessings and cards and foot/ hand prints.
I wonder what other parents of multiples do... or are they too busy to worry about it? I'm determined to make sure all my kids of proper baby books!

Fall Out

2011-11-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

So, twins.
Huh. There go all my plans and expectations. Oh sure, I knew there is always the possibility of 'hitches' in the plan, but I certainly wasn't expecting this one!
There are a lot of serious and seemingly simple (but costly) consequences such as:
We'll need two new car seats.
We'll need a bigger vehicle because there's no way we can fit two rear-facing seats plus Abi's seat in our Corolla. (Let alone take the dog anywhere with us.)
We'll need more sleeping space - not that I expect Robin and I will be sleeping much.
We'll need more cloth diapers (and covers and wipes)
and clothes
and blankets (let's hope they're not droolers/spit-up kids. I was lucky with Abi. She wasn't either of those things.)
(so much for second pregnancy being practically "free" as anticipated)
A large stroller (I usually don't use one and prefer baby wearing, but I don't foresee wearing two through toddler-hood as I can with one! I'm going to assume if there's a stroller then Abi will want to ride on it too, so I'd need one with the funky standing space for older kids. And that takes us back to a larger vehicle - that can fit such a thing.)
A cot to fit two babies (we'll still co-sleep but I like somewhere safe to rest wee babies when they nap; we had a basket and a co-sleeper for Abi both of which I sold immediately because we didn't need them long and didn't have space to store them)

But let's assess what we do have -
plenty of baby-wearing stuff. (two wraps, two slings. I don't think the Ergo will be much help and it's in Winnipeg right now)
a decent collection of cloth diapers
plenty of yarn to knit more covers!
great friends
an eager helper (that's Abi; she'll be 4)
some girl clothes in Winnipeg with my sister. But I only kept my favourite/special clothes.
family in Winnipeg we will return to...

Once in Winnipeg we'll of course need a house and work, which are huge, but not something I'm overly worried about because I have full confidence we can find both with ease.

Ultrasound Results

2011-11-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

There are my babies.
We (Robin, Abi and I) saw their strong heart beats. Saw them waving and wiggling.
Saw two babies!
Two freakin' babies.
So screw you all who said multiples.

Abi is delighted!
Robin and I are still in shock.
And while we don't know the sexes yet, I'll trust Abi's right and she's getting the brother AND sister she wants.

Blood

2011-11-11T19:55:00.000-05:00

Abi had her first experience witnessing blood being drawn. She was well behaved as we waited at the lab for me to get some blood work done (finally went in...). I hate needles and having blood drawn, but Abi was just plain curious and I of course did not want her to know that I dislike this. So, when it was finally my turn to sit in the chair and await the lab person, I explained to Abi what all the supplies we could see were and how they would be used. And when the lab person came to draw the blood, Abi watched closely to every step. And, since I didn't want her to see my dislike I actually watched with her as the needle was inserted and 4 tubes were filled with my blood.
You know, it really wasn't so bad. I always look away. I'm always scared. And there was nothing scary about it once I resolved to not be scared in front of my child.
Yay me.
Yay Abi for thinking it was interesting.
After, she asked the lab person if only adults have blood drawn. We were informed that it is usually adults, but sometimes very sick kids come in too.

Meanwhile, Abi's seems to have a tummy bug, although she's not complaining that her tummy hurts (this time). Instead she regularly takes herself to the loo. Otherwise she's her usual self.

In baby news, the first ultrasound is scheduled for this Monday. (I was surprised to be able to make an appointment so soon.) I'll be sure to let you know that we're not having twins. (or triplets...)
And, in more exciting (to me) baby news, I get to have my former midwife again! Originally she was scheduled to be on vacation when I was due, but for some reason the group had to reschedule things and now she's available and called to let me know! I'm very excited!!! The new midwife was nice, but I'm really happiest to have Sheryl again.
Also, I need someone to play with Abi on Monday at lunchtime...

Looking the Role

2011-11-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

What I've been feeling lately was confirmed by friends last night. I look pregnant. I'm not talking about "baby glow". I admit, I walk funny - yes, I waddle a little - ridiculously so when you consider that I'm really not far along in the pregnancy. I have a tendency to hold my belly. And my pants have not fit for a long time. The photo above illustrates this. Already at 8/10 weeks - and actually well before now - I've got a belly. I don't recall this happening last time. Certainly not so quickly.
The pants pictured above were my favourite jeans. The perfect fit - neither tight nor loose. I've put on at least 15lbs since I could wear these. That is, the last time I weighed myself at the midwives office 3 weeks ago I was 15 lbs heavier than what had become my normal weight in the previous 3 years.
So why the weight change?
Do not say twins!
It's more likely related to the fact that at the same time as we conceived I stopped nursing Abi. Yeah, mean mommy cut her off (at almost exactly 3 and half years old; not so mean). I explained that I need the energy to grow a baby brother OR sister and Abi's cool with that. Nevertheless, those extra calories not being burned add up.
Then add the nausea. 24/7. And the snacking - usually healthy stuff but not 100%. It's the nausea - the discomfort in my tummy - that causes me to hold and rub my belly often and to walk funny. Yes, I'm not very comfortable most of the time.
And my discomfort and exhaustion has me laying down a lot. Even though I regularly take the kids to the park, etc, I'm not the one running around for an hour or more.
My next midwife appointment is in two weeks. Which reminds me I need to go get some blood-work done soon. I'll see how I've grown then. And I'm hoping things even out soon. Which also reminds me that I have a few piles of clothes to sort through. The pre-preggo stuff can be packed away again. The preggo clothes I don't yet fit can be stored within easy reach (I'm wearing my favourite orange preggo shirt today even though it's unnecessary; I like the excuse to wear it again.) Plus all the summer stuff has to go away - including all the cute summer dresses and tailored not-button-up tops I won't be wearing again for a couple years because they are not nursing-friendly.
Which reminds me of the other obvious sign of my pregnancy and the other pile I have to sort through. Breasts and bras. I've already had to haul out the larger cups, so it's time to put away the others.

Elora Gorge

2011-11-07T10:03:00.001-05:00

We spent a lovely Sunday in Elora, exploring the gorge (and looking for some geocaches, of course).

Look down Nana. Look waaaaay down.

There was a lot of hiking involved, and Abi was eager to explore.

Abi was watching some fishermen. They caught and released a large fish while we watched.

Yes, a lot of walking. A lot to see.

It was often slow-going.

You can see the fishermen below. That's where we were previously.

All in all, a lovely day. Even if we didn't find the second stage of one of the geocaches. (Others reported it unfound too.)

On our way home we stopped at the last remaining covered bridge in Ontario. (That conveniently has a geocache nearby. Imagine that.) Also known as the local kissing bridge.

Photo by Abi.

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend too.

Craving Kale

2011-11-03T20:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, it's unofficially official... I think I need a daily raw kale salad. My body craves it and I feel like ICK until I get it. Nothing fancy. Just raw kale leaves (no stems, yuck) softened up with a tasty acid like fresh lemon juice and/or a little balsamic vinegar or such. Also massaged with a pinch of sea salt. And for some added flavour and texture (and healthy goodness) some avocado. Or chick peas. Or something like that. So far I've been using up the avocado and chick peas. Fresh cherry tomatoes or such are also tasty as I recall from long ago when I ate kale salads more often. If I am to have a daily kale salad, I imagine I'll be looking up some more recipe ideas so I don't get bored.
I also need more kale.

Halloween

2011-11-02T09:03:00.000-04:00

once again, Abi delighted in Halloween. The costumes, the treats, the running door to door (to door to door...), the jack o'lanterns, the decorations, the scary monsters. Yes, she adores the scariest houses.

She also enjoyed designing her own jack o'lantern. She even carved some of the eyes. (The next day she added the tattoo.)

She really wanted to pose with her pumpkin - for many pictures.

As for dressing up, she chose to be a pirate. Pretty cute pirate. Cheeky too.

Hope everyone had a fun, safe and a little-bit-scary Halloween.

7 or 9 weeks

2011-11-01T12:21:00.001-04:00

I've got my calendar marked up with what 'week' of fetal development we're at. Of course I have two numbers. The 'real' number and the 'standard use' number. So, I'm at 7 or 9 weeks. 7 actual weeks (or so) of growth and 9 of 40 weeks along.
Baby looks something like this - I love the hand for perspective. And this is a model, not what a fetus actually looks like.

(source: http://www.firstscience.com/home/photos/life-8-weeks_11.html)

Adorable, but not as cuddly as a baby.
Still dealing with 24/7 nausea. And the newly acquired stash of candy and chips is an evil temptation. Especially the potato chips.
Which is why I just popped some perogies in the oven. (Marginally better...)
Before I leave for childcare I'll prepare another bowl of Kale and Avocado raw salad. mmmmmmm. I still swear it's the best thing I got from my (short lived) raw diet. Just kale massaged with sea salt and lemon juice, with chunks of avocado. (Stems ripped off of the kale of course to keep the leafy goodness.)

Abi and I were looking through some scrapbooks today. Marion's (her grandma) and her own baby books (one is a scrapbook, the other a more traditional baby book.) It reminded me that I should probably start tracing the growth of my belly soon.

First pregnancy (Abi) growth at 34 weeks.

I like what I did for my first pregnancy. I think it's a lovely piece of art now featured in Abi's scrapbook. Emphasis on it can fit in a scrapbook. As much as I love the series of pictures some people take, and belly casts, I think this single rainbow is simpler and easier to look at later. I simply taped the paper (with painter tape so it wouldn't leave a mark after 8 months) to the wall at a corner, then would stand with my back at the same place and trace. Of course it's not entirely accurate, but close enough.
There are old posts about this art starting here,and here, and here, and here.

Also, I need to start considering another baby book. I'd had Abi's since I was a young teen. Yes, I saw that flower fairies baby booked and bought it for my distant future. I love the book and I think it had a lot of good sections, but there are parts I improved upon and things I had no interest/need to fill in. I've often thought of designing my own baby book. I've chatted with friends about their art for it - since I'm no artist. And clearly I stalled on that within the last 3 years. My design and content would be more holistic. It wouldn't assume things such as having a hospital birth with a doctor. Or an end to nursing within so-many WEEKS - listed as an early 'achievement'. It would have more space for the first year of celebrations. For naming and community ceremonies, for first winter, first spring, first autumn, etc. For baby on the go (preferably to feature baby wearing, but not necessarily), and for the usual things such as crawling and rolling and steps, but adding cruising. And there are things I'd certainly add to my own book - such as use of a potty...
Yep, without a baby book already in my possession, I think the next baby book will be my own creation using a scrapbook binding. I'll prepare the pages in advance (soon...) so I know what I want to keep note of.

Pumpkin Play

2011-10-26T10:05:00.001-04:00

Abi and I spent yesterday morning at Nauman's Pumpkin Farm. We started with the giant corn maze, working our way in from the entrance, but we could not finish and eventually found our way back out the entrance. Abi was not impressed by dead ends and just wanted to give up. I enticed her to try some more several times, but eventually grew tired of having to convince her. Plus, there was other fun stuff to explore.

Rope maze and a few of the pumpkins laid out to choose from. Emphasis on a few.

We did successfully complete the rope maze.
And there was much fun to be had bouncing and jumping on the bouncy-hay. I'm not sure what was under that blue tarp under the hay, but it was much like jumping on a giant water bed.

Plus, there was simply the hay border to run around on, pose, dance, etc.

These were the poses she asked me to photograph.
She also had fun climbing in the straw pile behind.
But most of her time was spent climbing the hill and sliding down the long tubes. Over and over again. Fortunately, I could just wait at the bottom. (I did slide down twice with her and I can say, twice was enough for my butt. It's not as corrugated inside as out, but there's a little waviness inside.)


The tunnels behind and up the hill.

Top of the tunnel

Really, really fun!

We tried the corn maze again later, starting from the exit, but still couldn't make it all the way through and once again retraced our way back to the way we entered.
Before leaving we chose a pumpkin to carve for our jack o'lantern. Plus Abi got a mini one to draw a face on. Also picked up a couple of cooking squashes - unique varieties of course. Batwing and something 'warted'. There is an amazing variety there of squashes and pumpkins.

Abi the Artist

2011-10-22T21:14:00.005-04:00

Abi's made an incredible leap in her drawing and colouring skills in the last 2 weeks. She went from scribbling over a picture she was 'colouring' to actually paying attention to the lines. (All by herself. I've never made attempts to correct or change her drawing and colouring.) Although she still goes over the lines with her broad strokes of colour, she is clearly cognizant of the forms and adds different colours to different parts of the picture. In her drawing she's recently been working a lot of spiral forms, adding legs and faces and calling them dinosaurs or dragons. Sometimes she adds wings (for a dragon). Or spirals as rose flowers. Or just single lines in wandering shapes that she will look at after and decide what it resembles.
Last week she presented me with a picture she'd drawn of me. It had a head and face. It also had arms and legs where they should be (not protruding from my head), but no torso. I asked where my torso and neck were. I then had to add that a torso is a body. I think she added them in. (I can't find that picture.) A couple days later she brought me a new picture and there were all the major body parts - much to my surprise since we hadn't talked about it since. This evening she drew an even better picture of me, hanging on the wall. (At the end of the video. And yes, she added breasts.) A few pictures later I pulled out the camera and asked if she'd draw a picture for Nana and Pa-pere. The video follows:

Argh - is youtube down or something? None of my videos are working.

Here are the pictures:

Nana and Pa-Pere (first time I've seen her draw short hair) with baby Mandy, Dorion, and Abi below. Deliberately made smaller and proportional in size. She insists she is bigger than Dorion - who is bigger than me as a baby.

Me/Mommy. With flowers adorning my hair (a later addition while it was on the wall and stickers were out.)

One of many spiral animals.

I'm no artist. Nor is Robin. At least not with drawing skills. I'll have to seek out someone more talented to guide her skills later. For now she keeps surprising me, especially this last week or so. She's also started showing an interest in writing letters, but since she is left-handed I've been doing some research to help her in this regard. Robin writes with a 'hooked' hand, but I've been learning about the technique of turning the page and working with a straight wrist from below so that the things written (or drawn) can still be seen. Plus, less smudging. In the video Abi is holding a fat marker, but normally she holds a pen or pencil better - and has since she was about a year old and started drawing. She's never liked the art utensils designed for young children - the fat tools. They never made sense to her because she couldn't hold them normally. I'd picked up those fat little markers as her first lil markers a year ago, but she has some finer ones that are easier for her to hold and I'll make sure to only buy thinner markers from now on because she can hold them better.

Also, I picked up a small package of plasticine modelling clay a couple of days ago, made a little dog figure and had to go out that evening. So I suggested (as a distraction) that she make me an army of dogs. She did. She quite likes plasticine. I'll have to get more - for a larger army.

Bleh

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling the first-trimester-blehs lately. Tired, nauseous, meh. And of course, the hour I'd love to lie down is mid afternoon when I need to head out to care for two more kids. I snag a wee rest around 6 when I get home while Robin makes dinner.
Thankfully it hasn't progressed past nausea.
But we definitely need groceries tomorrow. I'm going to have to swing by Queen Street Commons on my way to work with Abi to grab some additional nutrition. They make a killer breakfast bagel (usually still available mid-day; on wood fired bagels) and mini pizzas with delicious veggies (not green peppers. ick.) and quiches and burritos and more yummy stuff. And they don't cost a ridiculous amount. Couple bucks.
Plus, their 75c large ginger cookies are always delicious. As are their other dessert goodies.
(Now I'm even more in need of food. Apple, cheese, and some grains ain't cutting it today no matter how often I snack. Like I said, in need of groceries.)

Health

2011-10-19T12:41:00.000-04:00

All this organ craziness (uterus-related stuff included - it's fine) has necessarily redirected me to focus on my health. In particular, what I consume. Now, I don't consume a whole lot of 'bad' stuff. I mean, it takes me a good month to eat a dark chocolate bar and I rarely indulge in anything else. We don't eat a lot of fast food (can't recall the last burger; did have pizza the other day), but I had become accustomed to a daily cup of coffee. And I harass Robin all the time about not preparing enough vegetables (potatoes excluded) for our meals (yeah yeah, I could do it myself) - although we did enjoy cauliflower soup last night. Abi helped prepare it. She then told me it didn't have any vegetables in it! But corrected herself a few minutes later by adding that maybe it did have vegetables, but daddy pureed them. So apparently that might be the key... She did help with the pureeing and with putting in the small dollop of sour cream. And since she helped, she could take pride in the meal. A handy toddler tactic ;)

Anywho, I'd already decided to cut back on refined sugars. At least to not bake with them or add them to my coffee/tea. Honey's just as good or better. Now I'll cut back more on coffee - and not simply substitute with black tea. I'll just have to have more vegetable 'cravings' too. It worked the other day when I hinted I might have a craving for a stuffed roasted red pepper. Later also got a stuffed squash. So my additional reminders seem to be paying off - that and Robin's knowing that growing a baby requires more than meat. (Let me say that Robin really is a wonderful cook and works hard at it. He can make a meal from 'nothing' - at least, I'd say there was 'nothing' to eat if I looked in the cupboards and fridge. And if I was the cook and shopping we probably couldn't afford a house. Or, at least not all my yarn - harharhar.)

My naturopath prescribed the use of castor oil to reduce the cyst on my liver. Got a fresh new bottle since I discarded the old bottle from when Abi was a baby. Or, I think I did. If not, I certainly should. That castor oil was a life saver. It should be on every baby-supplies shelf. Say farewell to tummy pains with a nice castor oil massage. (Make sure you know how to rub that belly in the proper direction - I find myself teaching a lot of moms young and old. How come this isn't basic training for new parents? #grumble) Anyhow, I'm sure the oil will get use with the new baby too.

Related to health, I'm diving back into the world of pregnancy and preparing for a baby with joy. Time to brush up on some things - such as re-reading Birthing From Within.

Pants

2011-10-18T13:28:00.000-04:00

I have a ridiculous collection of pants. The problem lies in having too many sizes. Only three or four ever fit me at a time. I have the pants that fit me for years and years pre-baby. Those were put away when I became pregnant over four years ago. First I just went up a size or two to accommodate a little bit of weight. I simply wasn't fitting into my usual size, but I was no where close to needing preggo pants. Then came the preggo pants. After birthing I was back to the comfy, slightly over-sized pants. Then back down to my pre-baby pants. Only problem was, I finally had to admit to myself that even with a belt pulled taut, those pre-baby pants weren't fitting any more. Yeah, they were a fair bit too big.
The preggo pants of course were packed away for future pregnancy. As were the not-yet-big-enough-to-need-preggo-pants pants.
And then the 'original' pants were packed away and I had to buy a new set of pants.So, I have four collections of pants, none of which I'm willing to get rid of because who knows what size I'll need after this baby is born.
It seems so silly, to me, to have such a large collection of pants and so few that fit me.
After this baby, which will be my second and last pregnancy (thank you), I'll be clearing out my pants collection! Oh, what a glorious day that will be. I don't know why, but this collection offends me. Maybe because it seems wasted space - and we really do not have a lot of storage space. Granted, I think my yarn stash might take up a wee bit more space... but that's not the point...
Where was I before I started undermining myself?

That's the exciting story of pants in my life. Personally, I'm looking forward to being able to wear the orange pants I bought in Germany again, if only for a little while. When I grow back into them.

By the way, this whole pants rant (tee hee) is really about being pregnant and growing.

Mittens for You to Knit

2011-10-17T12:59:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to see my friend's mitten design in the new Interweave magazine Jane Austin Knits 2011. The lovely Anne can tell you all about her own design at her blog. Go look. And then choose your yarn. Or follow the links to see more from the magazine.
Her design was also featured on this morning's email issue of Knitting Daily - which is how I knew of the release.
I've been waiting with almost-as-much anticipation as Anne to see the final result. I remember when she started with an idea. Then a chart. And a swatch... And then acceptance from the magazine. Oh, and then the very short deadline to knit up the samples for the magazine. It's very exciting! You know, as a designer and knitter and friend. Not necessarily in that order.

Me, I'm knitting mittens too. Mine are simple mitts for Abi, but I am pleased with the yarn. It's my own handspun. Using up the bag of romni wool fibre I bought many years ago - for non-spinning purposes. I deliberately plied it loosely, but that was before I had plans for the yarn. It was Robin who suggested I make Abi new mittens. And to keep them warm, I'm using small needles (2.25mm). And the fluffy yarn is proving to be less-than-cooperative at times, but they are coming out lovely and warm. They're a little tight to get on, but she can fit her hand through the cuff. So they'll simply be nice and cozy tight to keep the wind out - and to keep them on!

Note how the barber-pole yarn transforms into beautiful fabric.

6 weeks and a couple days

2011-10-13T23:38:00.000-04:00

You may have caught the FB post about eating two thanksgiving dinners... for two. Or maybe you missed it. That's okay. I'm telling you now, more plainly, that Abi will be a big sister. Our family is growing.
By standard measures (which are ridiculous, by the way) I am 6 weeks and a couple of days pregnant. (But really that means the embryo has existed for 4 weeks. And a couple days. Because you don't get pregnant on the last day of your period. What a ludicrous method of counting. As if people don't understand ovulation and how conception works in the 21st century.)
Only 34 more weeks to go until we meet the baby. Or so. Thereabouts.
Fewer weeks until we will know if it's a boy or a girl - and yes I intend to find out again because, no, I am not patient enough to wait.
You can do the math if you like on your calendar, but I don't like to announce a "due date". It's a "normative" date. That means, on average, the 'norm' is about 40 weeks (which is actually 38 weeks by the way, but they have to tack on an extra 2 weeks to date it by the last day of your last period. See how silly it all is?)
As I was saying, if I was going to give some standardized date, it would be around June 5th (look at that, you don't even have to check your calendar now). But I don't say that or think that way. It's foolish. It's not as if a baby has a timer that buzzes when 38 weeks are up. Just because some measure found an average of 38 weeks for development, doesn't mean it literally takes that exact length of time.
And don't even get me started on the misuse of the body fat index...

Sorry, where was I? Oh, the joyful news of a new baby. And that it is due around early June. (Not late May, because I'm pretty sure running early isn't in the genes.)

And to answer the typical questions we've been fielding:
Yes the baby will be born here.
Therefore, no, we will not be returning to Winnipeg before June.
Yes, I once again intend to have a natural home birth with a midwife.
Yes, we are still returning to Winnipeg in 2012. Shortly after the baby is born. And yes I'd rather move with a newborn than while pregnant. Especially since I do not want to transfer my midwife care and I want to make sure I can have my baby in the comfort of my own home.
Abi is elated. She talks constantly about how she wants to care for the baby. She'll rock it to sleep and sing it lullabyes. She'll hold it. (She'll change diapers I like to add...) She'll teach it to draw and read and... the lists go on.
Abi has also stopped nursing as of my last ovulation (when I was certain I was pregnant). Yay, I get a 9 month respite. She respects that I need my energy for the baby. She still hints that she'd happily start nursing again if I said yes, but she doesn't push or beg. So I think that went well. We'll see what happens when there is a baby nursing...

That's the big news around here. I don't have any related photos to share, but you can see what the baby looks like, sorta, here. Eww. Squishy little thing.

Lace and Spinning

2011-10-12T11:30:00.001-04:00

You may be aware that I love lace.
I find there is great inconsistency in how lace yarns are 'listed' or categorized. I was curious to compare some of my favourite laces to see how they look, side by side.

L-R: 1) My handspun single. I am making this a 2 ply, but it's still a lace weight. (see below for plied photo)
2) Black Grignasco Merino Silk - this is probably one of the finest lace yarns I've purchased and is a 2-ply. As you can see, my handspun single is pretty close in thickness. (Look at the shadows too.)
3) Red Baruffa Cashwool - I'm looking forward to knitting with this. A light 2-ply lace.
4) Spice Trail Montague - ah, my favourite yarn base, Montague by Waterloo Wools. Same yarn used for my Battle Weary shawl, my Green Embrace, and my current Tread Softly shawl. It's a tightly plied, 2-ply merino-silk lace yarn. The yarn has lovely stitch definition because of the fiber content and plying. Especially when compared with how loosely the other lace yarns are plied.
5) Orange Wellington Fibres 2-ply mohair/wool (80/20 blend) - I've had this (and a green skein) forever. I really must knit it.
6) Yellow Centolavaggi - a loose 2-ply lace. From my 2011KALendar shawl.
7) Green Shelridge Farms soft touch lace - another loose 2-ply
8) Green, hand-dyed knit picks bare lace - a 'medium' ply, 2-ply lace. A bit wider than the others.
9) Handspun single - Mermaid colourway of some fancy fibres sent as a sample with another order. I deiberately spun this thicker than the other singles I've been making (for lace) because of the angelina content. Plied with some plain white for more of a DK weight yarn. (see below)

My favourite remains the Montague for its stitch definition and colourways.I'm looking forward to knitting up the black with some small needles in an intricate lace shawl (for my mom...). I think it will take a while. The green hand-dyed also has a lot of purple in it (we were actually aiming for a more ocean-themed colourway with blues... totally did not turn out that way). It's for mom too.

Not content to simply purchase mill-spun lace yarns, I of course have to spin some. Here's my current collection of tools:

Far left - a top whorl suspended spindle that I made the other day.
Next - my new supported spindle by Thomas C. Forrester that makes lovely lace. So far I've spun one set of alpaca singles.
Blue - my newest turkish suspended spindle in size 'medium' from Threads Thru Time
Orange - my tiny turkish spindle also from Threads Thru time, which is great fun for carrying around and making lace.
In package - a Knit Picks turkish spindle. A friend is currently borrowing mine and this will be hers. It's a large size.
Bottom: the 'stick' I used for stick-spinning.
Not shown (oops) - my new Rakeshaw spinner that works much like the stick. Mine was made by a local guy and purchased through a guild member. (Yes, I've joined the KW Knitters Guild this year - finally).

And here are the 2 most recent mini skeins I spun:

Singles - showing how the 'mermaid' is thicker. As you can see, the tiny spindle does not make very large amounts of yarn. It's still a lot of fun!

Mermaid single - this wee ball maxed out what my tiny spindle could hold. It wasn't very difficult, by the end, to wind the yarn on to the arms, but I wasn't about to finish with a small amount of fibre left.

Teal singles

Teal plied together.

Mermaid plied with a white wool-silk single whipped up for this purpose. You can't really see the shiney angelina here. I think I'll knit something like a small Yule ornament with this. It is very loosely plied - deliberately so.

Last night I borrowed a book on the history of Orenburg lace knitting. (The knitters Guild has an incredible library that I now have access to.) I look forward to learning more. I've also been reading Wrapped in Lace and Knitted Lace of Estonia, which have a lot of information about regional lace styles and methods.

Mystery KAL - spoiler alert

2011-10-10T20:56:00.001-04:00

As you should know, I'm leading a mystery knit-along for a new design of mine called Tread Softly. The KAL is over on Ravelry, but it's closed to new members now. The complete pattern will be available in January. It has been a lot of fun to share my design and watch other projects in progress. I only see a small fraction of the WIPs. Sometimes I go to the Projects page from the main pattern page and look at more. It's also been quite the ego-booster, I must confess. A lot of wonderful praise about the pattern. I knew I loved it, but one never knows how others will appreciate the design. Especially when it's a mystery. Each new section is an entirely different pattern of stitches around a forest theme.
So far I've released 5 clues (the most recent came out 'today' - technically I put it up late last night).

The shawl at the end of clue 4 - plus a few rows of clue 5.

The central leafy and floral motif.

Bear paws and berries on a branch. (Or some saw these as flowers such as bluebells and maybe lion paws. They can be whatever the knitter wants - within reason.) Some of my knitters have been replacing the nupps (the 'bumps') with beads. Those look lovely too.

Clue 4 - some paw prints going the other way towards the edge.

Celebration weekend

2011-10-10T11:42:00.001-04:00

In celebration of Robin's birthday (on Thursday) we went out geocaching on Friday (he took the day off for a 4 day weekend) and Saturday. These photos are from our morning at the Huron Nature Area.
Sunday we had cousins over for a turkey-free thanksgiving dinner. We enjoyed cranberry-BBQ meatballs, sausage stuffing, roasted orange veggies, sweet potato casserole, and jalapeno cornbread muffins for dinner. Dessert was apple-crisp pie and pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream. All lovingly prepared by Robin and delicious - as usual.

A cache hidden in an old car - I have no idea what it's doing at the Nature Area...

We saw and 'rescued' (from the sidewalk) a few fuzzy caterpillars.

Guess who ended up having to transport Abi's stuffed animals, as usual.

It was a beautiful and scenic day.

Can you count the fishing lures/bobbing-things? (I don't fish, so I don't know proper terms.)

I was on the lookout for paw prints to prettify my Tread Softly pattern when I release the final version in January.

I spotted some prints on the path and upon closer inspection found this little guy. He was more interesting.

We saw a few monarchs, but often further away. Of course I didn't manage to get the camera out and to the right settings in time for a good, detail photo. But I rather like how this turned out.

Today we have another Thanksgiving dinner to attend with friends. This time with turkey.

I almost forgot to add this video from our outing. I always miss the original 'version' of what Abi's doing and it's never the same when I try and goad her to do the same thing for the camera.

Pony

2011-09-26T11:13:00.000-04:00

I'm overdue with posting and will eventually catch up with old stuff. In the meantime, I wanted to share that Abi finally got her first pony ride - and just barely.

We spent Saturday seeking out Geocaches en route to New Hamburg, then lunch at Meme's (nom nom), then a few more in that area, then decided we would indeed run out to the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese festival in time for things to be wrapping up. Watched some model boats racing. Hopped on a tractor-wagon ride. Passed pony rides in progress and hopped off the wagon at the next stop, only to walk back to the pony rides to find the circle they walk in dismantled and the horses being loaded up. It was very sad, for us. Abi was quite distraught following her building excitement for her first pony ride, finally. Fortunately, a kind woman looked over and saw her, the pony had to be unloaded anyhow to rearrange the horses inside, and Abi got a special pony ride around the parking lot. She smiled and enjoyed it, but later voiced her disappointment that she couldn't ride a bigger horse! That kid! I don't even think the bigger horses were saddled for rides. The last time she was at a stable, where older friends of her ride, he was informed she couldn't ride until she was 4. I think she's eagerly awaiting her birthday in the spring and I suspect we'll be taking her to the stables shortly after. Let's hope they don't pull out a pony...

It was a full day of geocaching stops. We took a few photos with this tree that Abi wanted to climb.

Mystery KAL - Tread Softly

2011-09-02T23:55:00.000-04:00

I am truly excited to be hosting my first mystery KAL. Some of my family in Winnipeg might remember one of the lace projects I was playing with. That design has been named Tread Softly. After much play I have all the charts ready and in order. I've swatched and tested. I've moved things. I've created new designs, I've charted existing patterns (that were all written out and sometimes wrongly... and written to be worked flat anyhow so needed modifications), I've modified patterns... and I'm ready. And excited.
It's like going back to school...
which I'm not doing.
For the first September in 25 years.
This gives me something to do. Something to facilitate. To focus on. To share.
Within minutes of posting the pattern and saying if anyone might be interested to leave a comment and I'd figure out the best form of hosting the KAL, there were several responses. Eager responses. Then more and more. So I created a group in Ravelry. Made up a banner and such things. Wrote out more descriptions. Started discussion threads. 'Pimped' it out a little in my favourite discussion forums with other lace knitters...

If any of you are interested in joining, the first clue will be release on Tuesday. Check out the pattern link above. You'll need to join Ravelry to join the KAL, but I'll post progress here too if you just want to be a voyeur.

I'm also very excited because I'm working it in my favourite yarn! Waterloo Wools Montague. Lindsey custom dyed the yarn for my project at my request and we made a fair trade for the shawl I knit her. Yeah, remember that wine-inspired shawl I was working on in Winnipeg? It was 'supposed' to need about 600 yds of yarn. I had 2" left of an 840yd skein. I was the pattern tester. And this is why we test patterns :) I didn't mind. I love to knit. I got yarn.

Winnipeg

2011-08-29T23:32:00.000-04:00

Here's a summary of our trip to Winnipeg. Drove 23.5 hours from 3am (EST) to 1:30am (CST). Surprised my parents expecting us the next day. (mwhahahaha) Abi and Darla slept most of the way. When not sleeping, Abi was happily looking out the window or colouring or something like that in the back. I forgot until too late that I had meant to pick up children's gravol or some such thing before the trip. And then we forgot again before the return drive. (But remedied that on route after a 'reminder' and after running out of towels for cleanup.)
Saw family and friends. Attended a lovely wedding. Abi and her cousin Do' had sleepovers. Met my 3 week old niece. Spent some time on my sister's farm helping out. Drank Caribou. Spent a long day at the beach. Saw my grandma, also visiting. Ate too much. Knitted. Let everyone else go Geocaching. Worked on a new design of my own. Did I mention knitting? Shared many hugs.
Drove back in two days. Stopped in White River - where the bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh came from (before it was given to a soldier, ended up in the zoo, etc). Note, it's not a very exciting stop - there's not much to see, not really many restaurant options, and motel will not be a return visit for us. I'd expected a bit more tourism considering its tie to Winnie.

Pictures probably tell a better story.

geocache

within a week of Robin telling Abi she'd never see owls in the wild...

My old stompin' ground

Just Married

Candy Var delights. And wearing Evenstar. There was a chill breeze.

The boys

Just what she always wanted - so she told me. Thanks Nana.

Siblings? Cousins.

At St. Vital Park. Best themed playground ever! (and better than the new one at Assiniboine Park)

He asked me to take this...

At Assiniboine Park

Heading home - beyond the prairies obviously

It really is a lovely drive

Really cool spinning ride at the playground. I need one of these... will upload videos too.

Winnie the Pooh "Where it all began" in White River, ON

Sunrise on day 2 homeward bound

I have a disk of photos my dad took, somewhere. There is a definite lacuna in my set of photos. None of Sara, my new niece.

Heat

2011-08-07T02:23:00.000-04:00

It's hot again this week. I wish I was at a splash pad right now with Abi - but I'm sure they're all shut down for the night and Abi is fast asleep. Because, you know, it's 2am and too hot to sleep - for me. Instead I'm looking longingly at these photos from the last time Robin and Abi were at one of the many free local splash pads.

I'd even be happy to be back by the lake at Parry Sound where we were visiting with friends last week.

Doesn't that water look inviting? It was warm in Georgian Bay. I even went swimming of my own volition!

Evenstar FO

2011-08-05T12:32:00.000-04:00

At long last, the glorious shining Evenstar shawl is finished! I knit this between Oct 2010 and Aug 2011, although there was a long period when I did not work on it. I needed a break.
Click on pictures to see larger versions (and I've shrunk them considerably already, so it won't fill your screen.)

The full circle (mostly) hanging on the brick wall (imperfectly, but you get the idea).

The radius of this shawl is about 28"

Yes, it was worth every minute...

...and every bead placement.

My shawl was knit with Painted Fleece merino lace yarn in sapphire blue that I picked up in the 50% bin at the KW Knitter's Fair 2 years ago (almost 3 now since the next fair is quickly approaching in September - same day as wedding number 2 for the summer). There were two full, matched, gorgeous skeins just sitting there in a bin. I have no idea how they could still have been there when I arrived since I certainly was not the first person in the door. There were no knots in the yarn, it knit up like a dream, it blocked out beautifully, and when washed there was barely any blue in the water despite the mass of yarn soaking. I paid $24 for the pair - of hand-dyed yarn. All 1760 yards of it. I'm confident it was destined to become my Evenstar.

Pictures still do not do the colours and the beads (iridescent, pearlized, and metallic blue) justice.

I'll be wearing this to a couple of evening weddings this summer closed with a lovely handmade silver shawl (technically it was made for hair, but same technique for use) pin I purchased at Spirits of the Earth Festival from Angelyques.

P.S. Dear mommy, I honestly do not post these photos to taunt you with my beautiful lace. Let me remind you that this beauty is coming to you later this month - hand-delivered with love.

Before I forget, this hand-knit shawlette in hand-spun yarn (purchased, not spun by me) will also be accompanying me for donation to a fundraiser.

Once again, photos do not do justice. There is red sparkle in the yarn.

So many Hatchlings

2011-07-27T17:24:00.001-04:00

Normally I don't like to knit a pattern more than once. There are so many more patterns I would love to play with, that I usually don't see the point in knitting the same thing.

Apparently, that is, until my Hatchling obsession. I recently finished another in a golden, silky yarn. It's divine. And a gift. Shhh. Surprise. (You don't know who it's for and the person may or may not ever read the blog, so I'm really not worried about ruining the surprise.)

For context, I also made these ones:

Today I picked up MORE yarn to knit ANOTHER one. This one will be donated to a fundraiser being held for my cousin and his son. My cousin is terminally ill with cancer and is not insurable (that's my quick summary of why the fundraiser is being held). I also grabbed some lovely handspun yarn to whip up another shawl for the fundraiser. Both will have to be finished by August 19th - not a problem.

Speaking of Hatchlings...
within two days two new baby girls entered my circle of loved ones!
My sister had a baby girl named Sara on our wedding anniversary date.
Yesterday (two days), later my friend had a baby girl named Brielle.
Aren't those lovely names?
Another local knitting-friend is due (with another girl) at the end of summer and her baby shower is coming up.
Consequently, I've been handling a lot of baby stuff - to gift (and to lend to my sis). Going through Abi's old stuff brings back so many wonderful memories.
I've yet to see any of these beautiful girls in person, but I will soon.

Muah

2011-07-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

Kissy-face from Abi. (It's much nicer than the other silly faces she was making for the camera.)
Nothing terribly exciting to write about lately. Like everyone I know, we're just trying to stay cool in this tropical heat wave.
Trying not to knit or spin the mohair project... you know, that kind of stuff.
Swimming at a friend's place some days, but in the last week, mostly just hiding inside with the air conditioning.

Also, "muah" made me think of Abi's recent proclivity to give a wicked laugh when she's tackling me. "Mwhahahahahaha." I've taught her well.

Robin and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary this year. We're going to see a movie. Without cable at home, I had no idea that a new X-Men movie was released last month (missed it) and new Transformers is playing - until a friend happened to mention it. Of course, I know of the new Harry Potter, since enough of my online friends are fans Tweeting and FBing about it. I managed to miss part one of HP however, so it looks like I need to rent a movie.
I suppose I could set something on my browser/Yahoo/a newsfeed/Twitter to keep me updated about movie releases, but nah. That would involve too many notices I don't care for. Usually Robin's pretty good about knowing of these things. I don't know how he missed these ones. Busy I guess (and I suppose his X-Box gaming friends don't talk about movies while they're shooting and blowing stuff up).

Also, look for us in Winnipeg - to visit - mid-late August.

Spirits of the Earth

2011-07-11T11:34:00.001-04:00

Home from Spirits of the Earth Festival. Clean. Enjoying the cooler indoors. Putting things away.

Crossing the suspension bridge near the revel fire site.

Playing with best fest friend Jade.

Keeping hydrated.

Entertaining themselves (and inspiring the other kids soon after) during the Bardic Feast.

Receiving awards for the children's performance at the Feast.

Asleep at the revel fire on Fire night - Saturday - despite the drumming (including Dragon Ritual Drummers) and hollering.

Handspun Hatchling

2011-07-05T12:55:00.000-04:00

Finished spinning and plying this yarn in time to knit up the last half yesterday and block it in time to wear this week at Fest. This Hatchling Dragon shawl is staying with me! Sorry, I can't part with it. But I have a replacement gift Hatchling already started.

Have I mentioned that I spun this yarn? Because I'm rather pleased with it. I wouldn't use a striping yarn with this pattern again though. I still love the shawl, but the stripes are not ideal. However, I'm willing to forigive that flaw because, well, I SPUN THE YARN.

Evenstar

2011-06-30T15:27:00.001-04:00

If you follow the blog rather than the FB feed, you may have noticed a couple spiffy new widgets on the left sidebar that show my Ravelry FOs (that's "finished objects" for the non-knitterly/crafty folks) and WIPs (works-in-progress). One of the pieces I am pleased to finally be finishing (slowly but surely) is my Evenstar Shawl. I started this back in October. It's knit with a fine yarn on fairly small needles (3.25mm). There was an extended period where I was tired of a very repetitious section that was taking forever - so I put the project aside. I picked it back up again in April and eventually finished the main body by end of May. Then I couldn't find the pattern for a while, got caught up with other lace shawls, etc, and here I am in almost-July finally working on the edging.

As you can see, it's a heavily beaded edging. It's slow going. I'm aiming to work two chart repeats a night because I want to make sure it is finished in time for a September wedding. There are 56 chart repeats. That's 1120 rows and 2800 beads. I've finished 9 repeats so far.

The shawl is unblocked, so the stitches are bunched together. I've attempted to lightly open up the stitches in this last photo to give an idea of the finished look. (I also managed to slide the needle out of several stitches while doing this, but was able to fix that with minimal difficulty.)

As I finish up this shawl, I'm much of the way through another circular-knit shawl. The new one is a square shawl. I'm working on the second last main body chart. There's probably another 20 row chart after that, and then the knit on edging (much as the above shawl). The new mystery KAL (knit-a-long) shawl currently looks a little something like this (but with more rows since the photo was taken). It follows the story of Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. In the photo below I had finished the "China" clue/chart (like dragon scales). Now I'm working on "Japan" (cherry blossoms). Also seen here is India, Egypt, and England.

Care Bear Stare and other fun stuff

2011-06-29T17:53:00.000-04:00

If you've never witnessed Abi defending herself with a hearty "Care Bear stare" you're missing out / lucky to still have your hearing.
Here's a brief sample of what we listen to over and over and over...:

And since I neglected to share any of the exciting photos from Abi's first time bowling last week, here you go:

The final scores from our first game. Abi's, Maxwell's, and mine.

We often had to wait a long while for Abi's balls to reach the end. I sometimes helped give them a little extra push at the start.

Donkey Sanctuary

2011-06-22T19:27:00.000-04:00

Today we visited the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.

There were donkeys (which I didn't get a chance to photograph while we were inside the petting area because I had to keep Abi from running to the feeding animals).

It was a cloudy but muggy day, so I don't imagine this shelter helped much.

BTW, these are our friends.

We learned a lot about these sweet animals. They are very social and bonded in groups. At the sanctuary there are also mules and a few sheep and goats. But it's not all about the donkeys. The sanctuary is located on a lovely piece of land, so we walked a couple of the nature trails, through the forests, by the pond, and along the marsh. There are educational signs along the way and there is much to see.

Finally headed back to the car...

And had a peaceful ride home.

New Songs

2011-06-21T09:50:00.000-04:00

Abi spent yesterday making up rebellious songs. I was able to catch a little of one, but once the camera was on she was about ready to finish singing.
Here's the video:

Finished Projects

2011-06-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

In light of the recent posts concerning incomplete projects I thought I would share a photographic list of finished projects from this year, in order of completion:

A slip cover for Robin's archos using the leftover yarn from his Yule socks. Made it up sans pattern.

An indecisive ribbed scarf with vertical and horizontal stripes. mine. I was asked to share this technique last year so wrote up a tutorial.

My first shawl of the year. My own design to use some dreamy mocha-pink handspun yarn I bought locally (before I started spinning!) Bought the complimentary pink silk-blend to go with it.

A Carcassone hat for a friend's birthday. My design.

A Decepticon slouchy hat. Chart is not mine, but the colouring is. And I hand-dyed the yarn for the gradient effect. This was a special request from Candace.

Some socks for mom using a simple slipped stitch pattern to break up the variegated yarn.

A crocheted Festival shawl as a surprise for a friend who had surprised me with this yarn as a gift. This was my first beaded shawl. I also knit myself a lacy cardigan with the yarn last year.

Abi's pink and blue scarf using yarn she dyed and plain white. Knit with double garter.

A Fibonacci Sequence toque for dad.

An Ethereal shawl for a friend.

Another crochet shawl using up yarn from my stash. I kept this one, although I'd assumed I would gift it.

Rhombus socks for mom in a Raven-way yarn from Blue Moon Fibrearts.

A Traveling woman shawl for a friend with yarn that Abi dyed.

A strip for a collaborative gift blanket using yarn that Abi and Isaac dyed.

A spring shawl (Summer Flies) for Abi using up more yarns that Abi dyed - and a little of my handspun yarn too! I haven't bothered to block it, but I can to make it grow with her.

A Hatchling Dragon shawl for my sister. My design and the yarn had been gifted to me by another friend who doesn't like bamboo yarns - which she discovered after buying some lovely bamboo.

My Battle-Weary Dragon shawl. My baby. My design. Many beads.

A Windermere/Tigers Eye stole for mom. The never-ending thing. ( Not as never-ending as my Evenstar. Or the afghan for Veronica we shall not speak of.)

A quick Lotus hat for me from my stash.

My green Sweet Embrace stole. Nupp-ilicious and I adore this yarn from Waterloo Wools. Same as the Battle-Weary. There's another skein in my stash...

A bucket hat for me using old cotton I've had since I started knitting again.

A quick crocheted Geoui shawl using up stash yarn that pooled terribly when knit. I think the pooling works in the crochet design. This one was gifted to a friend.

My rainbow-licious Antonia shawl. I could not resist when I saw this single skein of rainbow lace yarn.... Then I cursed myself for buying a yarn nearly impossible to match to a pattern. This worked. I love it. mine!

An Indigenous shawl using up the yarn I bought many years ago while in Saskatoon with mom for a conference.

A sweater for Abi in the pink (of course) yarn she chose from a local yarn store closing sale. A simple raglan I made up as I went with a diamond lace motif.

Another strip for another collaborative piece.

The mystery knit along shawl from June.

The Undercover blanket Abi and I made

An Echo Flowers shawl in my favourite yarn - Waterloo Wools Montague. (Same as Green Embrace and Battle-Weary Dragon above - different colours of course).

The End - for this moment less than half-way through the year...

mail grumble

2011-06-19T19:16:00.000-04:00

Just as I was ready to brave the postal strike and send this off to the lucky recipient, darn postal system had to totally shut down. At least it wasn't already in transit. I suppose there are other options... options which are realistically only moderately more expensive... Canadian shipping costs make me wish I was in the USA - just for shipping purposes mind you.

Isn't it lovely? Can I lie and say it took me longer than 4 days? I often feel guilty stating how quickly I knit. Non-knitters may then underestimate the work and value of hand-knit pieces. Knitters just flash me dirty looks :P
Even though it's knit with 1200yds of fingering weight yarn, the yarn is held double - so I only knit 600yds. This is the green yarn Abi and I dyed together. I call the finished project Ebb and Flow, but the pattern is called Undercover.

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T18:05:00.000-04:00

Hope all the dads I know had a great day with their kids today.
We went to the beach. Played in the sand and water. Saw a northern water snake (see second snake at link) cross through all the kids to the other side of the beach. Got ice-cream. And I rode in the back of the wee Corolla between a car seat and a booster seat.
Back in the city we picked up some beers, popped in some limes, and barbequed some steaks and potatoes. By "we" I mean Robin.
Pretty good day I'd say.

"I want sugar before bed"

2011-06-17T10:25:00.001-04:00

We enjoyed a fun-filled day yesterday.
Started at the beach at Pinehurst Lake conservation area, which is a short 30 minute drive from home. (30 minutes provided that you take the non-scenic route...)
We were going to go after lunch, but the forecast was promising thunderstorms in the afternoon (liars!) so we left earlier. We were having so much fun we stayed until the last minute when we had to get Maxwell home. The beach is soft and sandy. It's small, but on a weekday during the school year it was empty. The lake is natural and spring-fed. The water was lovely. The temperature outside was only 21 degrees or so and the sun was playing peekaboo behind light clouds. Not so hot that I wanted to swim (it takes a lot to get me swimming) but I did wade in it with the kids. The kids spend the day wading, building sand castles, catching minnows, and just generally running around. We met up with some other homeschoolers there (how I learned of the place) and another family was there too. At the end of the day we joined the new friends for ice-cream at the nearby convenience store accessible from the park. It reminded me of St. Malo (back in Manitoba, where we often camped and went to the beach as kids) because for a little money you get a whole lotta ice-cream! It's an incredible deal and I don't know how they make a profit. As an added bonus they add a gumball inside the cone (I opted out, but the kids love it!) because apparently that's how it's done where the owner is from in Nova Scotia.

As Maxwell accurately pointed out, beaches and summer and ice-cream go together well. We played with all the variations of what makes one think of the other, leading to the third. The ice-cream was a fitting end to the day.

Except that it really wasn't the end of the day for Abi and I. After dropping Maxwell at his home we went home to prepare for a potluck that evening. I baked perogies. Easy-peasy contribution, but oh-so-delicious and I think they were a nice compliment to the many tasty dips and the burgers. I had accidentally been left off the discussion e-mails about the group event until the final tally of who was attending when people realized I hadn't responded. Ooops. So I only learned of the potluck the night before. Turns out it was also a birthday party, but I didn't know that until we arrived. It just means I wasn't prepared with a "gift", but it was present-free. The birthday girl received a book of "coupons" from friends of the "will help with X" variety. So I've sent along my written "coupon".

On our way to the potluck Abi and I were talking and I mentioned how it certainly was a special day of fun for her. She corrected me. "No, mommy, it's not a special day of fun, it's a special day of TREATS!" She was convinced there would be cookies at the potluck (there were not), and a day with cookies AND ice cream is certainly a special day of treats. Yes, she was like the proverbial kid in a candy store, and for obvious reason.

Anyhow, there was cake. It was around 8 before we were ready to light it up. There was just so much yummy food to be eaten that it was hard to think of cake. As the cake was being cut, after singing happy birthday, I facetiously sang "I want sugar before bed" while dancing with Abi. Silly me. Abi began to sing - more seriously of course - "I want sugar before bed" over and over and over. There were plenty of kids on site and they were running around in the yard - burning off sugar. We lured them home with parting balloons. Abi and I both crashed last night. Relatively early for me and relatively late for her (10pm by the time teeth were brushed, etc).

For Nana

2011-06-16T00:48:00.000-04:00

I took a picture of Abi with her favourite donut - with sprinkles! - and her first chocolate milk. Just for you nana. She sure loves a donut with "sparkles" on it. And I can't get away with a simple donut hole. Oh no, she knows she wants a donut with a hole in it. And sprinkles. It's got to have sprinkles.
I've created a monster! Actually, I think I can blame the nice senior lady who gave Abi her "free donut" prize when I was going to cash in a "free coffee" prize a couple months ago. Abi of course had to choose her own donut then.
And she's not a monster, but I do get flashbacks when I see her with a donut - to my own donut days as a kid and mom's horror when I would eat an entire Big Mac as a kid. Yep, Abi and I can eat. Personally I go for the chocolate donuts.

Also, do you like her shawl? Still one of my favourite pieces. I found one of my childhood hairclips to hold it shut - the dogs. I think it's the hound dog from that Disney movie about a dog and fox. I find that metal hair clips with the wire back that pops over a metal ball - not the snapping kind - make great shawl pins.

A little more Abi for Nana in the form of a not-so-exciting video from the same day. Abi walking down hill on the way home. After a bus ride - and that's always exciting for her. Just a little bit of Abi being Abi.

an exchange

2011-06-15T08:53:00.000-04:00

Sharing some love from this morning.
Abi came downstairs, dressed and more awake than me - with my coffee in hand.
Abi "I like you mommy". Kisses me on cheek.
I kiss her back.
A: "No, you're supposed to do it like this - I like you Abi. Then kiss my cheek."
I do that. Then it's her turn again.
A: "Then we wipe it off and do it again. It's a game."

I love "I love you/like you" games.
So much better than "don't kiss me! Take it back!" lol. Taking it back involves giving another kiss. Win-win for me. Shhhhh.

Friday Fun

2011-06-10T20:40:00.001-04:00

Our day started like this:

We found tent caterpillars along the road on our way to Monarch Woods.

Enjoyed looking at unique growth and plants in the woods (aka the "jungle" or "rainforest" as the kids like to call it). Brought along some field guides to wild flowers and "weeds"/native plants.

(note to self - finally identified this flower as Dame's Rocket. Edible.)

Had to look at the caterpillars some more on the way home.

Abi and I had no interest in touching them, but our friend Maxwell thought it was great fun. We found a few on the ground too, to crawl on Maxwell. Rescued one caterpillar from certain death as it was crossing the sidewalk towards the road.

Our day ended with too much all you can eat sushi. Abi even agreed to try vegetables again (ie, an avocado and cucumber maki roll), but she still opted just to eat the rice and seaweed instead. Then she tried one of the spicy salmon rolls and liked it. She also loved the shrimp tempura. It seems we have another seafood lover in the house.

Burgundy, Teal, Copper

2011-06-06T12:57:00.001-04:00

What an exciting morning of colour fun we've had. I had three hanks of yarn that needed to be dyed for a special project. I wanted one to be handpainted, one solid, and the other to be solid or semi-solid (but changed my mind after using this dye).
Given that my blue food colouring (in the little drop shaped bottles from the grocery store) is leaking and I'm low on food dyes, I decided we'd try out the Wiltons paste dyes today.
First things first, I started the three hanks soaking in vinegar water this morning.
After Abi woke we all headed out to Bulk Barn to choose some colours.
Our friend Maxwell who was helping us dye chose the colours. Burgundy, teal, and copper. We all know what the special project is and that helped guide our decision.

At home we started by mixing up teal in the slow cooker to leave one hank cooking while we moved on to hank number two.
This was the fun hank! Hand-painted in all three colours!

After painting we wrapped it up in the plastic wrap and have left it to cook in the hot sun.

Meanwhile, the teal was setting nicely and ready to be rinsed, rolled in a towel and stepped on, and laid out to dry.

The teal and the hand-painted will be held together double to form the main body of the project.

There was still a fair bit of blue in the pot, so I freshened it up (by this point the kids were too hot to help as was the pot) and decided to immerse half of the third hank. I noticed that the paste colourings were being absorbed as a solid colour and since the third hank will create a border, I didn't want just a solid colour. This yarn will be held double using both ends.

And that's where we are by 1pm. Here are a couple of sneak peeks at the hand-painted while it's cooking in the sun.

Edited in the ~~evening~~ next morning (when the blogger uploader was finally working) to show the final yarns drying:

More Green Dye

2011-06-03T15:01:00.000-04:00

Look what Abi made today. 3 skeins of green yarn for a special project.

Last night I finished the mystery shawl. Clue was released at 4:30pm and by 6:30 it was finished, soaked, blocked, dry, and ready to wear. tee hee. Not that I wore it because I still don't know if I want to keep it or gift it. But I was able to bring it to show off to the Uptown Knit Mob. The longest part was probably pinning it for blocking. Well, besides the waiting parts (wait to soak, wait to dry).

Friendship and bugs

2011-06-02T18:52:00.000-04:00

I love this video of Abi and her friend enjoying a snack together. Abi adores all of her friends - and she has many. Just today we spent a good 3 hours at the playground as new friends came and left.

Note that Abi is randomly asking about bugs in the video [for those reading this on FB you'll need to click over to the original post].

Many bugs

2011-06-01T19:19:00.000-04:00

Abi started the spring with a bug phobia. I'd warn her that summer=bugs. Then she started liking some bugs. Except anything that flies. Again I'd have to remind her that summer=bugs-that-fly-past-you. She especially doesn't like "bees" (which can be any number of yellowish flying bugs) and I remind her that Bees - especially the big ones we see in the flowers - are more interested in doing their own thing, like finding pollen in flowers.
She tells me all this now. She's less likely to freak out when she sees a bug. There is definite progress.
Then today I cracked up laughing.
I was singing
Summer time...
and she started echoing
Summer time...
I continued
And the living is easy....
She continued
And there are many bugs.

That was good for a belly laugh.

In other news a mysterious package arrived in my mailbox, for me. Unlike the last time I received an unexpected package, this one has a return address and customs stamp (from USA). Inside was a slice of a long spiral shell strung on a cord to wear. After much pondering I suspect my sister ordered this for me and it's arrived as a belated birthday gift. I had bought such a shell pendant years ago at a Festival. When V saw it she wanted it. So I gave it to her - because I love her and because I figured I could get a new one at the next fest. No such luck on the last part. I'd mentioned that to V last time I saw her wearing the shell, I think. I'm actually happy I gave it to her because she wears it all the time and I wouldn't have. I just don't wear necklaces as often as I once did.
I'm still waiting to confirm if I am right about the gift.

Abi was quite jealous that she didn't receive anything in the mail. She wondered aloud if maybe someone might send her a package. Who? I asked. Oh, I don't know. Maybe my Uncle Robbie.
She has this thing about Uncle Robbie. I don't know what it is. She's met him only a couple time and for short periods. She knows her toy cat was a gift from Uncle Robbie, but it's not as if it's her favourite toy. She has no favourite toys. Nevertheless, she talks about Uncle Robbie often and how much she loves him. (Oh, and she's never received a package from Uncle Robbie. I'd have thought she'd guess Nana - she sends plenty of packages - or Corey.)
So, Robbie, you've got some mighty big shoes to fill when we move home!

At home we decided to make her a necklace. The result was a lot of sead beads on the carpet in my office...

On the needles - doing my dreams

2011-05-24T15:32:00.001-04:00

It's been quite some time since I wrote about what's on my needles. Typically I just make my updates on Ravelry and share with Ravelry folks. Every now and then I figure I should share my art with friends and family too.
Let's see... What's the last thing I shared here? Dragon shawls and some handspun and dyeing experiments. A new hat and another not-so-new shawl were part of the pictures from Corey and Ed's visit.

That leaves several finished objects to share, but I'm still waiting on an opportunity to get better photos, so those can wait a little longer. How about what's still on the needles.

There's the Echo shawl above and the mystery summer shawlette below. They're the most recent projects to be cast on. The mystery shawl was started because I saw a post about it and happened to have a new hank of alpaca lace sitting next to the computer. I'd picked it up for less than $5 at a clearance table. How could I resist?

There is also an Indigenous shawl blocking on the bed right now. I've been waiting for a not-too-humid day to do it. I've had the yarn since my only visit to Saskatoon and one of my earliest shopping excursions to a local yarn shop.

This enormous white Freya shawl has been on the needles for months.

And these socks for about as long

There is also another Hatchling Dragon shawl on the go, but since I'm spinning the yarn as I go it develops in spurts. Waiting on an opportunity to spin more singles and then ply them.

Also awaiting more spinning is the Wheel of the Year project. It's a circular design so far but I'm about to transition it into a square with the new yarn to be spun. First I had to dye some fiber (in the background).

Party Weekend

2011-05-24T15:11:00.000-04:00

We celebrated two birthdays with friends and BBQs this weekend. The second was certainly Abi's favourite (no offense to J and K) since it was at a playground with all her friends from daycare. (On the way there we stopped for a few geocaches in the area... You can always tell the geocache-related photos because they are of Abi in a green space. I don't typically bring a camera on walks since I have Darla to walk.)
Some of my favourite photos from that day also feature her friends, but I don't post pictures of other people's kids unless I know they already post pics publicly.

Plus, there were fireworks at the second party!

It was a late night, but oh so much fun!

Deep Breath

2011-05-23T12:21:00.000-04:00

Taking a deep breath, metaphorically, before I post this. I feel nervous sharing this news. I think what made me hold back the longest was fear. Fear of how others would perceive this news and me as a result. I'm over that now. I've spoken with most of the people whose opinion matters to me.

I wish to be very clear up front that I am happy. Very happy and relieved and I feel free and am looking optimistically towards the future. Even though I don't know what the future is. Not that I ever really did, but I had a 'vision' I'd been working towards for about a decade. Then the vision changed, or became fuzzy, and I knew I didn't have to do things just because I once had a vision.

Part of that vision was to have 2 children, 2 years apart, before I am 30 years old. Yep, I didn't do that. (FYI, I'm 31 and I have a 3 year-old. Just the one child. So far. And I'm not pregnant. There, that covers that.)

Part of the vision was to be married. Check. Got that part fine and happily.

Then there was the part of the vision where I was going to be a tenured professor. I'd work full time at a university, be immersed in academia, and let someone else do most of the child care (and housework and cooking and such) because I didn't think I'd be much good at full time child care. I figured I didn't have the patience. Kids would drive me crazy. I'd just come home and read stories with them, do fun stuff on the weekend (when I wasn't grading papers or writing, etc.), and that kind of stuff.

People who know me now probably think that doesn't much sound like me. They'd be right. It's not. I discovered I love spending my days with Abi. She doesn't drive me (too) crazy. Well, most days. She's 3, so of course there are days and hours when she makes it her goal to defy everything. "I want you to be angry mommy!" She says that. (She also informed me today that she wants to climb the fence and fall and hurt herself - as her friend did yesterday at a party - and that it would be okay because she would heal. Of course she's right.)

I digress.

Over the last few years I've been trying to figure out how my previous vision of full-time tenure and a life immersed in academia was going to fit with my life as a full time, homeschooling, "crunchy granola" momma. Yes, I'm pretty granola by many standards, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. I don't focus on those things in discussion, but I suspect it's obvious anyhow. Something about home-births and holistic health and organic gardening and cloth diapers and elimination communication and (still) breastfeeding and co-sleeping and other more controversial issues all together.... they tag me as "granola".

Now, I'm not saying it can't be done - that I couldn't so all that stuff and have the career I once loved....

But I'm not. I made a choice and I'm not. Because I don't love it anymore for many reasons.

A few years back I started mentioning to a colleague that I didn't feel my work or research was very fulfilling. I didn't see how it made the world a better place or helped people. I tried to be creative and imagine it had more value. I could see how some of the research asides I took in the process of my central research project have value.

Those are the areas I'd rather pursue.

Maybe my problems really started in the first year of my undergrad when I discovered religious studies. I fell in love.

I think I would have done better to have discovered qualitative sociology.
All of which is to say I have had a major shift in career goals.
And a while back I had a major shift in my life priorities.
Consequently, I chose to not complete my PhD program.
There, I said it.
There were other factors as well, such as insufficient support from others. But I don't attribute blame to them. It was mostly situational, differences in perceptions, etc. Nevertheless, the result was insufficient support. I could have kept pushing through alone, as I've been doing. That alone was not the deciding factor.
There was life stuff, but that was (relatively speaking) easy to work through.
There was also

I've realized that I am no longer interested in a career in academia and there are so very many reasons for that. I love facilitating learning experiences, and I had some great teaching opportunities in the past, but I've also had the lousy ones. And, well, considering that IF I was able to get some teaching opportunities lecturing in the future they are more likely to be of the sort that others don't want to teach - like the intro classes - I know I don't want to do them. Unfortunately, intro courses in religious studies attract many students who expect it to be an easy grade. Combined with modern shifts in student expectations (the McDonaldization of education), all I can say is I'm tired of dealing with those people. Tired of endless plagiarism reports and doing more work than the students for their own paper. Tired of the whining. Certainly there are wonderful exceptions - students who are truly appreciative and eager to learn. And there are the silent students who don't complain, and get decent grades - at least to their satisfaction. The short of it is, for me, the small cadre of exceptional students don't adequately compensate for my stress and frustration dealing with the problem students. I enjoy helping students who seek out help. But I'm done with the vitriol of students who try to blame me for their failings. (Hey, it's not my fault nobody ever pointed out their plagiarism before and now that they are about to graduate and taking this "easy" course and I've written them up for plagiarism which might compromise their opportunities at other scholarships or what not... Except, I do care and I feel bad for them that previous graders failed them in not making them aware of this problem before and thus they arrogantly ignored my lecture on plagiarism and the resources provided...)

I don't blame the current economy, but I'm realistic about it. There was a time when we were willing to move where a job was available. And then we limited ourselves to Canada. And then we (as in Robin and I as a family/couple) specified that it would need to be more than a part time/sessional job to move. And then we/I said that if there is already a small chance of getting a university teaching job somewhere, we might as well move home. Because I'm a family person. I want to move home and settle. I always said I would never marry military because I didn't want to keep moving. I "tricked" myself into moving away in the first place when I went to MUN - I spent years convincing myself I couldn't attend UofM just so I'd have to leave for grad school and be on my own.
Now I have a family. And Abi wants to see her grandparents and her cousin as much as I do and as much as they want to see her. Several times a week she asks to drive to Winnipeg. Even when reminded that it's a long 2 day drive, she's willing to do it. But we can't. So I'm ready to move home. I have been for quite some time.
When I still imagined myself teaching, I justified the move by saying that the two universities would increase my opportunities to teach, even if only sessionally. I was willing, for the sake of moving home, to teach sessionally and await that magical opportunity to be hired full time at either university - but preferably my Alma Mater. I'm no longer interested in that - as stated above.
And it's not just the teaching sessionally that is no longer of interest. I'm also no longer interested in all that is expected of a full time professor. The endless teaching, research, committees, and other expectations. I wanted that, once upon a time. Now I don't.

In regards to the dissertation and why I am not completing the program, I encountered many difficulties. It started with getting approval from the research ethics review board - and I prevailed. Then there were the difficulties encountered in the field. Too few families participated (13 families and over 20 participants; I can't recall the exact number at the moment and really can't be bothered to check). I truly enjoyed the research process, as always. I wouldn't say I didn't learn anything - that's never the case! - but I didn't gather the kind of data I was hoping for. I knew all along that my research interests would be best served by a longitudinal study (and I'm not discounting the possibility of follow ups to complete it as an independent researcher), but I hoped for some "juicier" short term data. Or to at least discern some sociological trends, but with a small sample of diverse families and variance within each family, this was not possible. No matter how many times I poured over the data, re-organized, charted, listed, made comparisons... (I won't go into too much more detail at the moment. I do still intend to finalize some publications - after a short break.) I tried to compensate with additional research regarding theory and developing methodology - successfully so. In the end, however, as I was writing and rewriting the chapters directly concerned with the fieldwork, I was never satisfied. One day I might look again with fresh eyes and figure something out that's entirely different from the angle I've been taking. Who knows. I'm not worried about it. But it was yet another difficulty encountered.

Finally, I came to accept that I don't need any extra letters at the beginning and/or end of my name. I don't need the prestige of a PhD - despite having worked towards that prestige for many years. I have learned a lot in these years. I have developed many skills and have a great deal of knowledge. Most of the knowledge I gained isn't directly related to the study of religion per se. It's broader knowledge that I wish to apply elsewhere (see somewhere above). I have no regrets about my time in the program or my decision to leave.

This long-winded post can be summarized as: I am not completing my PhD program, by my own choice. There are very many factors contributing to this choice, but perhaps the most determining factor is a fundamental shift in priorities and life goals.

That and now I won't have to avoid the question of "when are you finishing?" any more :P

Excuse me now, I have a child trying to be patient and taking pictures of my typing while laughing hysterically.

We're off to do our dreams.

Earth Day and Designing - a belated post

2011-04-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

If the rains and lack of snow and flowers and buds are any indication, it must be spring time. And let's not forget the ducks in pairs and the birds building nests and and warm weather. Yes, it is mostly definitely Spring. Even if snow or ice should come crashing down right now at my window I would still declare it is Spring and the cold stuff can "Foxtrot Oscar", as my dad would say.

Seeing as how we celebrated Ostara/Easter while Corey and Ed were in town a few weeks ago, we didn't do much last weekend. For Earth Day (aka Good Friday this year), Abi and I dyed pencil roving given to us by a local woman trying to get rid of it. Abi and I experimented with the cakes. We dyed one in the form it comes in and the other I unrolled into a skein.

Here's Abi trying to get colour into the entire cake. We started with the microwave method of heat setting the (food colouring, as usual) dye, but it wasn't setting all the dye. So we switched to the slower oven method to let the yarn soak for longer. I flipped it over part way through so both top and bottom would be immersed in the oven. The result is quite nice. The purple absorbed fastest at the outer edges, but as the dye was slowly absorbed by the roving in the oven, the blue was set inside.

After that fairly simple dye job we tried our hand at rainbow dyeing.

Unfortunately, the results were not nearly as dramatic as the bath. I suspect more time and dye would have helped.

Regardless, I think it will knit up nicely.

I was also working on a new shawl design to show off my first full skein of handspun yarn. I was aiming for an Earth Day finish, but apparently I was expecting too much of myself to spin, ply, design AND knit the project in a week. So I finished it Saturday. (In part because my friend 'expected' me too. As a joke. So I proved I could.) The second half of the spinning and plying happened on Friday... one day... yes, I'm apparently as fast at spinning (with a drop spindle) as I am at knitting. You see, I had to spin it up quickly because I ran out of yarn half through the project that day.

The photo at the top of the posting was the first ball of singles. Above is what I had after plying the first two balls of singles and starting the knitting. You can see all the stages of fiber, singles, two plies, and knit. And my spindle. (I want a better one...)
Alas, I had to frog the entire thing after binding off. My design was... off... I shan't speak of what a silly mistake I made. But I did learn several things from working the design, not least of which is how GORGEOUS my first handspun yarn is!! (not including all the little skeins I played with before having the courage to spin the "special" fiber I had bought).
I'm currently testing a redux of the design on not-handspun yarn.
In the meantime, I had time to actually skein the yarn, wash it, let it rest... all things one should do before knitting it. It's not advisable to spin, ply, then knit from the ball in the same day... unless you want to work with "energized" yarn. (I won't delve more into spinning talk here...)

Once the design is knit and tested, I can sell it. And then I can buy a better spindle on Etsy. And some fiber.

Yes, I already have two lovely designs for sale on Ravelry. People are actually buying them too. Ah, my first day of sales was so exciting. Tomorrow my designs will also be featured for sale at the DKC Frolic in Toronto. Both designs use yarn by Waterloo Wools. And I was surprised to find one of my designs featured on another blog - with a design by Jared Flood. Technically, my design was "above" his. ;) And for the non-knitters, you should know that's illustrious company.
I'm waiting for all the people who have bought the pattern to start knitting it so I can see pictures! And for my test knitter to restart (she didn't like her first yarn) so she can share it too.

Both are dragon-inspired designs.
First came the Dragon Hatchling Shawl.

It's a quick project (I knit it in 2 days to get it blocked and mailed on time). My sister received this one for her birthday.
And then I finished the much bigger project. The Battle-Weary Dragon Shawl.

This one is knit in a cobweb weight lace yarn. My favourite. It's Montague Yarn from Waterloo Wools - a blend of merino and silk. When I saw this skein of Silver Fox for sale I had to get it.
I'm also donating some of the sales from the Battle-Weary to local animal rescue.

For the record, I really don't spend all my time knitting. I swear. But there are plenty of opportunities while I'm playing with / watching Abi, nursing, long car rides when I'm not the driver, having coffee with friends (many/most of whom are also knitters), making Abi finish her meal, walking to the park with Abi (this way I can walk at her speed without going crazy!)... lol And then I discovered that spinning actually helps me drink my coffee/tea BEFORE it's cold. Spin, drop, sip, draft. Repeat.

Last Weekend

2011-04-15T20:26:00.001-04:00

Last weekend was full of excitement. Corey and Ed came out to visit, we celebrated the beginning of spring with the Ostara Bunny leaving treats, AND it was my birthday. I'm finally getting around to sharing some photos for you. (click to enlarge)

Saturday we went out to St. Jacobs and after shopping at the market took a long walk in the town up to the local dam.
There were many lovely photo opportunities on that beautiful day.

Of course, Robin as usual neglected to inform us (or at least me) of his intent to take a long walk. If I'd known I would have brought the Ergo carrier... Instead there was a lot of this

And this

And just general trailing-behind of Abi and I

Fortunately, she could sometimes be convinced to walk more on her own with the allure of a walking stick

We saw a lot of great things. Fish in the water. Birds. "Helicopter" seeds to toss. And a couple of garter snakes playing chase and "hard to get".

The next morning the Ostara Bunny came to visit. Abi was slow to get into the hunt, but by the end she was eagerly seeking out more eggs. And she adores the purple lamb puppet.

We were having so much fun that I almost forgot it was also my birthday. My sweet daughter prepared a basket of her eggs for me and wished me a happy birthday.
Robin baked a rich chocolate cake.

We also went out for sushi for lunch.
That same day we also went to the park and took Abi roller skating (with Uncle Ed). Once again she made me proud - picking up newspaper flyers blowing around.
Litter offends her sense of what is proper.

Of course, as usual, she and I were tagging along behind...

(Here we are also modelling our summer knit hats)

Dangling Bits

2011-04-01T16:51:00.000-04:00

I made myself some pretty dangling bits.
Yes, I jumped on the pretty-stitch-markers bandwagon.
I used to be satisfied with plain white circles around my needles when I needed stitch markers. I was satisfied because that is what I inherited from my MIL and they work.
Then I wanted some colour, so I bought a small package of rainbow coloured rubber ring stitch markers at the Knitters Fair last year. Different colours and different sizes (particularly the small one for socks) is great, but I do find the rubber markers to be a bit sticky. I wouldn't want to use more than a couple on a project.

Still, I've been admiring the pretties dangling from my friends' projects on the needles.
Thus, today for crafts I made my own pretty stitch markers. It's been a long time since I delved into my bead collection.

The moonstone markers are my favourites of course. I also made two more that are clip-on style to attach to a stitch rather than on the needle. They're already in use.

I call these ones the Bees and the others are the Ocean markers. I think they'll need new homes. The Bees can also function to count things.

The Pretty in Pink markers used up leftover heart pieces from Abi's baby blessing votive gifts and beads from an anklet my friend made years ago that's been sitting unused. (I trust you're not offended Aileen. You're probably rather surprised I still have it.) The purple-blue set is my second favourite and the clip-on marker features a fluorite stone. I made many of these, you know, for projects that need a lot of markers.

We also prepared a basket of yarn bits for the birds and nested it in the tree outside. Hopefully the birds will help themselves to some nest-building materials... rather than try to nest in it... I'm intending to bring it inside every evening. (Emphasis on intentions.)

There's much more yarn to refill it as necessary!

Not these yarn bits of course. This is my special mini basket of mini (teeny-tiny) skeins from my favourite yarns.

Lest you think I would leave you without a cute-kiddo picture after all this time, I give you "walking the animals on a cloudy day".

Seeing Green

2011-03-25T14:08:00.000-04:00

We had yet another failed dyeing experiment this week. We tried dyeing a large skein of tan-coloured fingering weight yarn - over 400 yds - in the microwave (using food colouring drops done by Abi, so I don't really document the ratios etc.) using 3 dishes to try and get three slightly different areas of colour. All were green. Unfortunately, for several reasons, the dye was only affecting small amounts of the yarn. Those reasons include 1) too much yarn in each dish and not enough water to distribute the dye and give the yarn space to move and 2) probably too much vinegar in the yarn causing it to immediately absorb the dye before the dye had time to reach the rest of the yarn. After every round I'd look and find huge areas still of tan, so we'd mix and add more dye after pulling up the brown so it would catch the dye first... Eventually I had to give up and say UGH to the yarn above. Also, we'd run out of blue and green and red food colouring.
The next day we got more food colouring, a very large bowl, and overdyed everything in one pot to achieve the yarn below. Then I had to rinse it about 20 times because of all the dye added over the last couple days - far too much to be absorbed fully by the yarn. There is still a lot of wild variation, but I'm hoping it will look great when knitted... My friends son suggested it should be called Jungle yarn and would look good with some red accents. Sounds like a design plan...

Not all green was horrid this week. I did finally finish this project started last year.

And we had two boxes of gifts arrive this week for Abi. Today was Nana's box, which included this adorable outfit Abi immediately put on.

And magnetic dress-up dolls and craft stuff. Earlier in the week she got more dolls (and she's very happy to have a boy doll) and roller skates and other things. That was a snow day, so she had to test out the roller skates inside. She's very good at it.

Spring Equinox

2011-03-20T19:33:00.000-04:00

Today I noticed our Snow Drops are in bloom - just in time for Ostara - the Spring Equinox. The crocuses are not far behind and other bulbs are sprouting from the ground full of promise. Let us hope the snow stays away.

There are blooms inside and outside to enjoy at our house.
Snow drops outside. Violets from a gift basket over 3 years old inside. Seedlings planted by Abi and me. And Kalancho flowers from an old cutting.

Abi had fun at a local playground this afternoon.

And while riding her scooter.

not all dyeing yields desired results

2011-03-14T18:11:00.001-04:00

"Every skein is sacred.
Every skein is great.
If a skein is wasted..."
you know the rest (or should. and if you don't - your own loss)

I found myself singing this as I hung some recent dye experiments to dry.
It started with some blues and pinks-purple needed to finish Abi's new shawl. The results of the first batch were lovely and what I expected from Abi's colours. They were used for the picot bind off.

Sharing some love

The large section of blue near the bottom is my handspun yarn :)

Remember the yarn Abi and her friend dyed? It was knit up into these:

However, not all of our yarn experiments are equally lovely.
Yesterday proved that...

Abi wanted yellow. It took a while of being dissatisfied with the resulting pale yellow to add a drop of red to make it darker / visible. For the last skein I thought I would transform the yellow dye bath into some orange. There was still plenty of yellow left from trying to make it darker. Maybe adding a drop of the neon pink wasn't a great choice. It didn't matter how much red I added after... the skein is doomed to be crazy-bright.
No idea what I'll do with these...

And then there's this pink and blue in the same yarn base.

It's rather meh in my books.

Getting my knit on

2011-03-12T18:10:00.000-05:00

I was curious to see myself knitting (and purling), so with the tripod already out and the sun shining in the window, I took some video footage.
I'm going to use the longer footage to calculate my knits per minute. Just because I'm curious.
Aside from cutting out most of the footage, this is not edited. Ie, that is really my speed for knit stitches and purl stitches (slower). Plus on the knit row I'm slipping two stitches (for that row). Not every stitch is so quick to do.

I also did a quick video demonstrating a decrease technique used in my shawl design that creates 2 mirrored decreases from 3 stitches. (Not actually made in the correct place because I had already completed that row of decreases.)

And, for a joke I video recorded as I frogged back many rows of knitting on the shawl after changing the pattern for better increases along the sides. (This video predates the knitting above.)

For the non-knitters, "frogging" refers to ripping back: rip-it, rip-it / ribbit ribbit. Yes, it's knitting humour. Like "tinking" is to un-knit stitch by stitch or k-n-i-t backwards. tink.

3ft in 3 years

2011-03-07T17:59:00.000-05:00

In dawned on me this afternoon that Abi was due to be measured. So I pulled out the tape measure and the cardboard length I'm visually keeping track on. She's just over 3ft tall. Checking the WHO height for age charts, I see she's in a low percentile, which doesn't surprise me considering she's always been in a low percentile, especially for weight - which I haven't checked lately. What I find more surprising is when people say she's tall. I think people forget what size kids are.
Today we were out with her birthday balloon. Inevitably, many people asked her how old she is today - but first they guessed four years. Of course, she happily chatted at them and informed them she is three. And that now there's no more nursing for her. <-- yeah right. We returned home and guess what she was asking to do within half an hour. Nevertheless, there is now a base for weaning.

In celebration today, Abi and I went to the Stone Crock for a late breakfast. Abi had a huge pancake - which is why we went out. We also went shopping for sun glasses. She's been asking for a pair for months. I kept suggesting she wait for her birthday. However, since she didn't receive any for her birthday, we used some of her birthday money on a pair that she chose. They are pink and sparkly with yellow-green arms. Very flower/spring in colour. Before finding the glasses at the mall (in Zellers), we tried shopping in St. Jacobs. It was a lovely sunny day for walking around.

Yesterday was her big party - full of friends. There were many balloons. Plus one giant balloon that Abi eventually popped playing with (thankfully; there was no way that thing was coming home) and a special helium balloon - which she carried around today. There was also delicious food (thanks to Robin) and a tasty chocolate cake (if I do say so myself). I had some party games ideas, but the kids just played happily by themselves. There was much running and noise. All in all, I'd say it was a successful party.

Abi's already looking ahead to the next family birthday - mine. I made a circle calendar for her a couple months ago, marked the seasons, months, etc, and everyone's birthdays. Each birthday is colour-coded - mostly for decoration when I did it, but the colours have also helped her memorize whose birthday is when. So she knows last month was Dorion's birthday, that hers came next, and that around here mine is next. Later this month is the conglomerate of her Nana's, Grandpa's and Aunty's birthday (on the 21st and 23rd). She'll point on dad's birthday on the other half of the circle. And Pa-Pere's and Coreys too.
According to Abi, there will be kids and adults at my birthday. Darn, I was hoping for no kids :P

(yet) Another day of dyeing experiments

2011-03-03T11:24:00.000-05:00

Abi and Isaac and I dyed some alpaca sock yarn this morning. (Berroco Ultra Fine, washable).
In the top photo, the purple (both kids) and the green (mostly Isaac) are ready to be microwaved. In the second photo, the purple (mostly Abi) has just come out. She had added the concentrated dye mixture to the yarn before I had added extra water. The results are quite lovely though:

Purples and blues are so hard to photograph! This picture really does not do the yarn colours justice.

The bi-coloured yarn didn't come out as good in the green department. Especially when held against the bright purple. It was a muddy brown-green, with a lot of poorly-dyed areas.
So I mixed up some more green-blue and overdyed it. Except, I neglected to add vinegar at first. I think I assumed there was enough absorbed by the yarn at this point. I was wrong. The colour did not take. Some of the dye bath had been transferred to the other half of the dish by wicking. I added vinegar to the green side, microwaved for 2 more minutes, and voila - the water was clear! On the purple side, where no vinegar had been added, it was still bright green. (I'm pretty sure that purple wasn't planning to absorb any more colour anyhow!) Thus I had an unintentional experiment with vinegar and dyeing.

If you're happy and you know it

2011-03-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

If you're happy and you know it sing along.

Niagara Falls

2011-02-28T10:38:00.000-05:00

We took a trip up to Niagara Falls yesterday to visit my grandma (Abi's Gam-Gam) in her new apartment. While there, Robin wanted to find a few geocaches at the falls, so we took a long walk on a warm but grey day.

Saturday, Abi and I planted some seeds.

And later that evening we put together all of her train track pieces.

New Wheels

2011-02-20T11:51:00.000-05:00

Maybe you already caught the drama on Facebook about our lousy Valentine's Day. That would be the day that I was on my way to pick up Robin from work (so we could go out for sushi, which I suspected but was going to be a surprise from Robin for V-Day) when I met the lane-wide, car-eating pothole in front of the cemetery. It ate both curb-side tires leaving me with a flat, a bent rim, and two hub caps on the road to retrieve.

Granted, I didn't know about the flat. I first saw the hubcaps rolling in the rear view mirror, so I turned at the next street, parked, and got out to inspect the tires before walking back to retrieve the hub caps. Having discovered the flat, Abi and I walked home - picking up the caps on the way - so I could try and messenger Robin to let him know we would not be picking him up! He doesn't have a phone number to call at work, and we don't have cell phones. Of course, he was no longer on-line. I'd hoped he might have wi-fi access and be on his tablet while waiting. Instead I had to wait 45 minutes for him to finally look for us at home! He bused to the car with the intention of putting on the spare, but the bent rim made it difficult, so he had to drive the car home as is.
Bad bad day.
And no chocolate.
Not even since. Ahem. Robin!

Yesterday the car was fixed - new rim (maybe two, I can't recall, but the front was a little bent too) and four new tires.
Wish I could say the "new wheels" was more exciting. Good thing it's tax-return season!
And I would like to add that I had just driven past that pothole the previous morning, so I knew it was there. It was, however, much, much smaller the day before. As I shifted to the edge of the lane to avoid what I expected was a small pothole curbside, I ended up catching it worse because now the pothole was gigantic. No, seriously, lane-wide and deep. As we walked past I saw a few more hubcaps on the sidewalk and several more cars get caught. I called the city to report it and amazingly I was the first to do so. Apparently people don't think to report them? Because I can't imagine I'm the first to have hit it that badly - the scattered hubcaps said otherwise.

I haven't been back (no car) to check on it, but I hope they fixed it. It's a major road. I am surprised it was allowed to get that bad, but if noone reported it I suppose the city can't know of every pothole, especially one that seemed rather innocent the previous day - as far as potholes go. I imagine there were quite a few car-swallowing holes across the region because of the above-zero weather followed by freezing temperatures.

Recovering

2011-02-12T10:19:00.000-05:00

This cold/flu thing still lingers in our chests. It was utterly exhausting, but I hear it's a common sickness right now. We're not usually subject to the flu in this house.

Anywho, not much to write about. Feeling rather morose this morning. Browsed through the most recent issue of Pagan Moonbeams. The theme is death (and rebirth). And that got me thinking about people and loved ones we've lost. And because it's February I was thinking of a HS friend who committed suicide one January (years ago), but I always associate him with February because of this whole funny thing where he'd told one of our teachers that he was a leap-year baby and she'd planned a special thing for him and then found out he'd made it up as one of his many jokes. I don't know why that story always sticks out in my mind, but he and his friends will forever be remembered as pranksters. Oh, the things that were left in my yard... the things that were tapped under teacher's desks... the number of meter sticks broken... the stories I have for their children! (and they have children...) Sometimes those days feel like yesterday, but the memories are over a decade old and being pre-Abi they're really more than a lifetime ago for me. Everything pre-Abi also feels like a lifetime ago (literally and figuratively). To bring Abi into the thought processes, the Moonbeams issue included stories about pets who pass over and that's one thing I'm always trying to prepare for - the inevitable day when one of our furry family members passes on. I'm hoping that the current felines will have a longer life than most of my past cats. I've had bad luck with sick cats - all different forms of illness and all came on suddenly from out of the blue when the cat was otherwise very healthy. Recently vet-checked in some cases. Anyhow, I'm not emotionally ready to deal with another death soon, even though I know I can and I would and everything would be okay. It's draining. If I might ask a favour of the gods - I'd like a death-free year (food-sources aside; and I mean death in the classic sense, not the metaphorical sense, because I know there will be plenty of endings and transformations this year).

On to more pleasant thoughts today.
Such as a picture of Abi modeling her adorable scarf I whipped up using the yarn she dyed and balanced by some plain white. It's a very cozy, warm scarf. The dyed yarn is alpaca and the white is a wool-mohair blend. Warm! The stitch pattern is a double-ended, double-garter simple stitch - in case you were wondering. That means I knit across with yarn A, slide the stitches back across the needle (circular or a long double-pointed needle), then knit across with yarn B. Repeat to desired length. Incredibly easy and quick and great for on-the-go, chatting, etc. This scarf is nice and long - it wraps around and can then be tied.

The photo is from when she was sick. :(

Here she is outside, all bundled up, while Robin shoveled the deep snow. If only she was wearing her pink and purple knit mittens for this photo... she'd be knit-coordinated.

And here's a project I'd like to share. A friend of mine gave me a couple of balls of yarn last fall saying she saw it and thought of me and imagined I could make something beautiful with it. (Major Goodwill score! And she'd beat me to the store by 30 minutes.) I made myself a short-sleeved cardigan in the fall. And in January I made this, which the "knitting fairy" recently left on her doorknob (and almost wiped-out running away). It was my first beaded project. And, technically, it is crochet work.

The second photo was taken before I steam-blocked the shawl. The yarn is an acrylic blend (Mary Maxim "Mohair"), so it should be permanently blocked in shape now. Oh, if you were wondering, the Ravelry link for the original pattern is: Festival Shawl.

Final photo shows the subtle bead work along the edging. Very subtle yellow and white beads, but they add a nice weight to the fabric and some extra shine (which the yarn already had plenty of). I'm looking forward (and not looking forward at the same time) to working the beaded edging of my Evenstar shawl. (Here's mine in progress. Slooow progress. Not something I often have time to pick up. Not for months now.)

Sick, Sick, Sick

2011-02-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

It's been a horrid week of illness here. Sunday Robin was feeling off and attributed it to drinking too much caffeinated pop at the party Saturday evening. So Monday I bussed onto campus early in the morning, leaving Abi and Robin asleep. Robin had booked the day off weeks ago, which turned out to be very convenient. My quick visit to campus ended up taking most of the day, and I returned home to a hubby asleep on the futon and kiddo watching videos. He had a high fever and much congestion. Abi and I ran out for a few groceries (that Robin was supposed to get on Sunday, then put off until Monday). Tuesday was Abi's turn to run a high fever and get the mucus in her chest. Robin was over his fever and beginning recovery. I was busy tending to clingy sick kid. Her fever wouldn't come down with natural methods, which have always worked for her in the past, so I actually had to run to the store for children's acetaminophen. Thankfully that worked. And of course it was my turn on Wednesday. I knew what to expect. It was another day of videos, and this time I was the one sleeping the day away. I'm finally starting to feel human today, but we're hacking away. Slept in late and took a long nap at noon... Made pancakes with apple sauce because eggs is on the grocery list (my own fault for not picking up more in the quick run). Just snuck away briefly to check if there are any important e-mails. But Abi calls...

Library Apologies

2011-01-31T10:44:00.001-05:00

Dear fellow students tucked into your cubicles on the sixth floor of the library desperately trying to study for something,
I apologize if my attempts to muffle my chortling laughter were unsuccessful. I was reading a book titled Forced into faith: How religion abuses children's rights (by Innaiah Narisetti, 2009) and I honestly could not help myself. It is hilarious! Seriously, if you are a sociologist of religion, or have any rational observations about religion, or know anything about religion and culture or the sociology of childhood or interpretive research... you would laugh too. It basically puts forth a "radical humanist" (and this is the self-description on the back cover, I'm not making this judgment) perspective on children's forced indoctrination and subsequent abuses of children. Let's begin with the fact that this is radical. As in, just as radical as a fundamentalist Christian position - which would be among the many religious perspectives the author attacks. That should give you a hint of how hilarious this is.
It basically adopts a "brainwashing"-like position wherein children are passive and forced to believe in X - and they will never escape from X. And they will be abused because of X. Sometimes this is psychological abuse, usually manipulative. Sometimes it is physical abuse disguised as religious.
Now, I'm not saying that humans do not engage in abusive behaviours and sometimes cite religions as justification. That's well known. But I thought most reasonable (emphasis on reasonable) people understood about the role of culture, and the differences between belief systems and applications of belief systems, about politics, and about basic concepts of identity formation that do not involve "brainwashing".
Put simply, I laughed at the beginning because if one were to rationally follow through on the admonition of raising a child with ANY belief system, they would have no culture, no values (including no humanist values!), no worldviews. And the critique in this book is that religions are dangerous because they "force" a worldview upon children, and THAT is abuse.
Like I said - hilarious!
But it gets better.
Yes, if you jump to the wee little section in cults (and it's a small book so all the sections are short using exceptional examples to illustrate a point) there is more fun. (see pp 86-88)
First, it says cults abuse children. A common enough assertion. Then it says there are "several cults" currently worldwide. Just "several"? A mere handful?? That's funny. Now let's look at the list of twenty examples provided. I didn't bother writing them all down. Some are current NRMs. But there is also listed "garbage eaters"*, "televangelists", "Jim Jones", and "Heaven's Gate". The later two committed suicide many years ago; they are no longer a "threat". Oh, and Heaven's Gate did not involve children. I like "garbage eaters" the best. Would the author conclude that all North American's are part of a cult - because you should look at the "garbage" we eat! Or is the author referring to the alternative-lifestyle "dumpster divers"? Or homeless people living on the street?

Anyhow, I was spending some time at the library waiting for my supervisor to sign a form, decided to see what's new on the shelves related to children and religion (not much and I've read most of it already) and decided to browse this book just to see what it says. Good times.
PS - it may not have sounded as funny to you. Maybe you just have to read it yourself. Or be me.

*UPDATE: I ran into a colleague on campus, who I was mentioning this too, and he recognized "Garbage eaters" because he'd happened across the name once. So I looked up this one of THOUSANDS of "cult" groups. Turns out I wasn't entirely wrong about the dumpster diving. Apparently some members of a particular Christian group (also called the Brethren) are called "garbage eaters" by anti-cultists because they will engage in dumpster diving. FYI, while dumpster diving technically involves "garbage", it is still perfectly edible food. Bruised fruit, day old bread, etc. Basically what won't "sell", but you'd still eat it if it was in your home already in that condition.

Colourful

2011-01-26T18:13:00.000-05:00

Although this week's letter at home is A, I believe today was more like a D day. D is for Dinosaurs, which Abi and her friend painted many of (thank you Google images!). D is also for Dyeing (with an E, not to be confused with the last post where I initially forgot to add the E consistently, although I'm sure none of you really thought I have a death wish. Not with Abi around. Or is that the other way around...)

First off I did my darndest to get some very light blue and purple yarn to complete the Decepticon hat. White just will not suffice. It stands out too much. This time around I worked with short lengths and a little dish in the oven.

Of course, Abi wasn't satisfied with these little bits of blue. Now that I have all the yarn I need for the hat, the rest could be dyed by Abi. She still wanted pink and blue, so we tried an experiment using a two-halved pyrex dish and the microwave method for setting the dye.
I think it worked out quite well.

Abi mixed the colours. As usual she added a lot of drops and ignored my suggestions about the red.

Rinsing. Trying to capture the shaded variants.

Laid out to be squished.

All in all, we are quite pleased with the results which will be a scarf. I will definitely use this technique again. And the microwave technique is brilliant. Two rounds of two minutes on high, with a short (2 min?) break between. Much faster than the pot method! And those are some bright colours. There was basically no colour left in the dish - except some pale blue, but I find there is always some blue even when blue was just a minor part of the colour mixture.

Social Taboos and the Discussion of Religion

2011-01-20T16:40:00.000-05:00

As someone who actively studies religions and religious people and religious activity and religious worldviews - and all that juicy stuff - I am always intrigued by the social taboos surrounding the discussion of religion. In particular, I am intrigued by my seeming-exemption.
Having interviewed and spoken with many Pagans, for example, I often hear (and read about) the implicit "don't-ask, don't-tell" policy they share with their extended family. In some cases, Pagan adults might tell their parents once and if the parents are not also interested in Paganism or related things (such as Tarot or the New Age movement or nature-based spirituality in some form, to cast the net widely) then it's not usually discussed further. Each respects the religious autonomy of the other or, at least, does not actively intrude upon the other. Sometimes even adult Pagans don't tell their own parents - ever. There are many reasons cited for this, but it typically amounts to avoiding real or potential conflict in the relationship.
(Can you tell what part of my research I've been reviewing today? And since I've been tempted to write an extended footnote on this only marginally related topic, I'm opting to blog it instead to get it out of my system)

Of course, Pagans are not the only ones who don't discuss religion outside of their religious community. Even within a religious community, discussion about religious beliefs and practices may not be common; they may be taken for granted as shared. (Not necessarily so with Paganism, but some things are still taken for granted - even if wrongly so). I found it interesting, for example, while following an e-mail list for Pagan parents, that there was very little discussion of Paganism or sharing Paganism with kids. Most of the discussion on the list was very mundane and entirely unrelated to Paganism (and, in some cases it seemed to me antithetical to the movement, but I shan't digress to my critique of a particular thread of discussion I observed).So, talk of religion is not entirely common.

I've also been told on repeated occasions that people (of all ages) are not really interested in religion. People like Robin. And many young people... who grow into adults who remain disinterested. And there are studies, etc, demonstrating the growth of "no religion" as a category of identification and the rise of "moralistic therapeutic deism" (see the works of Christian Smith et al. with youths). Several of the kids I have interviewed said the same. So, some people don't talk about religion because they are not interested in the topic. (Of course, when they do happen to be interested upon occasion, guess who they come talk to!)

So, whether it is the result of disinterest or fear of conflict or just getting caught up in other topics - people don't talk about religion very much.
Unless you happen to mention that you study religion.
Then all taboos are dropped and not only do people ask you about religion and religions from an academic perspective, but they even ask about your personal religiosity.

(Of course, these inquiries may come after I have to explain that I'm not going to be a minister. Or nun. Because if that's not the case - ie, if they can't assume to know or imagine what I would do with my studies in religion, then what is my use for religion? What do I do? What is my religion?
And what do you do with a degree in religious studies? <-- a valid question.)

Why is that taboo not extended to me?
Is it because, as a perceived "authority" I am "special" and beyond the boundaries of taboos that prescribe interactions to maintain "normal" social relationships regarding the topic of religion?
Why do strangers presume to inquire about my religiosity in a conversation?
As a "professional" in the study of religion(s) I anticipate inquiries about religion(s) in general - inquiries that would draw upon my professional, academic knowledge. Even if I'd rather talk about something else.

When people presume to inquire about my personal religiosity I typically side-step the question. Usually I have no interest in beginning an extended conversation related to my personal religiosity with a stranger. It's bad enough that since I study new religious movements I receive many questions about "cults" and other NRMs and have to deliver the same spiel about what defines the Pagan movement (to someone who knows nothing about NRMs).

But as I tried to think of comparisons with other specialties, I realized this may be common. That is, that the inquirers seek to add a personal dimension to their knowledge. They want to get insider information concerning my personal outlook (in this case, on religion) as a "professional". I imagine computer engineers don't only have to answer questions about how a system works, but about what system they personally use and prefer. I suppose it's the same, if one takes a mechanistic view of religion. Having studied religion in many forms, I suppose others might seek my "informed" preferences for my own practice. Certainly I've had people make such direct inquiries of me.

That's when I pull out my ol' cult-leader joke. It's a goody. Have you heard me tell it?
(A little funnier than the Mandy with a Zed joke/story)

Other Person: What would your preferred religion be?
Me: I would want a religion based on respect... (yadda yadda)
OP: Oh, that's good. You should start that religion based on your expertise!
Me: Yeah! And the first thing everyone would have to respect is ME!

mwhahahahahahahahahaha

Seriously, people set me up for that one all the time. It's so easy when people know you study "cults". (or, studied... since I actively try not to say my specialty is NRMs now that I am far more interested in the study of children).

If I was studying to be a minister, I wonder what kind of discussions people would start with me. I try to avoid all of these inquiries and conversations by emphasizing I do "sociology of religion." It seems to confuse enough people that I can avoid further discussion about my personal religiosity. At the very least it makes clear to people that I will not be a minister/nun and I don't have to explain that religious studies is not the same as theological studies (now, or, mostly... depending on the scholar...). Sociology remains a relatively obscure social science I think. I'm certain if I studied psychology of religion I'd encounter a whole other set of inquiries... I can hear them now.

Anyhow, the short of it is, I find it interesting that I am exempt for the social taboos around discussing (and in particular, asking about) religion and religiosity. And, sometimes I'm annoyed by this exemption. But, mostly I'm intrigued and enjoy a good talk about religion. It is my chosen field of study for good reason.

Playful Videos

2011-01-18T19:10:00.000-05:00

I just uploaded (or, technically, am in the process of uploading) two video of Abi playing for your pleasure. Enjoy. Sorry the sound is almost muted on the one - I have no idea why, but you should probably be grateful you can't hear it at full volume.

Here's Abi dancing:

And Abi playing with her Dora lego.

And here are some cute pictures of her in her new house - which she painted.

Okay, you got me, this isn't Abi. This is her friend over to play, but it's the only photo of the door on the house - in all its pink glory.

Thanks go to Candace and Jon for providing the box.

Another day of dyeing experiments

2011-01-14T19:27:00.002-05:00

Let me preface the following by stating that even though I enjoy the process of using food colouring to dye wool yarn with Abi, I have no intention of becoming more involved with dyeing. Nope, not me.

Today we worked on creating a few small skeins of yarn that will be used to duplicate-stitch another Decepticon logo onto a black hat for Candace. She wanted the full-colour design - complete with gradients of blue and purple. Silly me said "okay". Hey, it seemed a better idea than doing the same grey work as Robin's hat. That would mean I did the same thing twice! No way!!

First job was to open the skein of yarn, figure out how many stitches were needed for each colour (pre-calculated earlier this week), and measure out the necessary amount, plus a lot extra to be safe.

Next the yarn has to soak for several hours. (Almost forgot that part. Good thing we were going to start early this morning and just had to push back dying to the afternoon.)

Eventually the fun starts!

We started with the blue. But apparently just plain blue food colouring results in a sort of teal or turquoise colour. That just wouldn't do. A drop of red fixed it nicely. The three gradients were created by leaving the yarn in for shorter and longer intervals. I probably won't use the lightest colour since I pulled it out before discovering the red-dye fix.

Too light! Back in the blue-bath!

Too teal. Time to play with the blue-bath.

A drop of red made it much better!

The darkest I could get it. Or I may have let it soak a little longer after this. I don't recall now.

Next Abi wanted to dye some yarn for herself, so we interrupted the scheduled dyeing of purple. She wanted blue. But then she wanted to add some drops of red directly to the pot after the yarn was in. A couple drops turned into a lot of drops. The result is decidedly NOT blue. But it is a lovely purple. (sorry, these photos taken in the evening with a flash.)
Then I was back to creating a less-mottled purple for the Decepticon yarn. Again, the lightest shade is not what I wanted, so I'll just use undyed. But I think the rest came out nicely.

Here are all the purples together. Abi's is on the right - the more mottled of the group. The pale purple [slash] pink will not be going into the hat. (Don't worry Candace.)

And, finally, it was Abi's turn again. This time she wanted pink. 4 drops each of neon purple and neon red created a very pink colour in the yarn (the water itself looked muddier). Too pink for me... so I dropped in a couple drops of blue... you know, so it will blend better with the purple later. I have no idea what her yarn will become. It's just plain old wool. I can't even recall if it's Lion Brand or Paton's Classic. Either way, it was originally purchased for making wool soakers, when I thought I would need more. Before she decided to use a toilet and not grow significantly in the diaper region.

This one is still in the dye-bath. In fact, I should probably go rinse it...

Final shot for Decepticon hat yarn: