Out of the mouths of babes

At 8 am this morning from my five-and-a-half-year-old:

"Was King-Kong born monsterly huge, or did he become monsterly huge?"

Some WIPs and FOs for you

Mostly WIPS. This here is a picture of my first attempt at blocking! It was truly necessary to do so, as this shirt is so tiny, there was no way in hell I was going to be able to seam it without doing so. This little tank is for my dad's Blythe doll, Bridget (see previous posts for explanation of 'my dad's Blythe doll'). This is sport weight yarn (Dale Stork), on size 1 needles. I've never knitted anything so tiny before! The shirt and skirt (not pictured) only took one afternoon to knit up; it will probably take me about a week to actually sew everything together. I'm also making a cloche-style hat to go with.

Now on to more normal-sized things. Here is a finished legwarmer, pattern courtesy of Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I probably posted about this before, but I'm hoping that if I post about it again, I may actually be motivated to knit the other goddamn legwarmer. They are soft as can be, although I wish I had learned to knit on DPNs for this project, as knitting these bad boys on circs is a major pain in the ass. I had to cast on 12 extra stitches, and it's still so tight I don't even know what to do with myself. Oh well.

Here's the Puzzle Scarf by Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops (link in sidebar). I dig this scarf, but again I'm posting about it because the project has stalled and I really want to finish it! I have so many other projects that I want to cast on, but I don't want to come down with startitis. I need to post about more FOs! I really want to start the Lacy Shrug from Kelly Maher at 10 Feet High, and I also want to do the Ballet Camisole by Alexandra Virgiel (pattern on MagKnits). They would make a cute matching ensemble to start the school year with. I also need to re-knit the Green Gable, which I frogged almost entirely due to the fact that it was about 4 inches too big around. I love the yarn and the pattern, so why am I stalling? I don't know. I just need to DO IT!

This is quite the rambling post, isn't it? I feel like I'm throwing a pep rally for myself.

Finally, here is the Crochet Crop Cardigan by Monica Brown at M1 Designs. I'm really happy with the way it came out. It makes my boobs look nice and big, and it's comfy and I like the color. I used 5 skeins of Cotton Fleece. The shell pattern at the bottom and on the sleeves makes me happy.

***

Currently, my two kittens Carlos and Joey are careening around my house, into walls and each other and poor old Tino. They are insane. It's sort of like having two teenage boys in the house, except they don't talk, which is kind of nice. They really enjoying swinging from the sheer curtains in the Banana's room, and Joey has also found out that it's really fun to scrape the paint off the door jam in our breezeway. I come out every morning to find a little pile of white paint chips littering the carpet (no lead, don't worry), the water bowl is overturned and the floor is sopping wet, book are scattered about, etc. I finally got smart and got them a COVERED litter box; before that, they would manage to scoop at least one third of the litter out onto the floor. Maybe they'll calm down once they're fixed. God, I hope so.

***

So when my mother passed away last year, we donated her body to a medical school in NJ for research purposes. When they are done with the donations, they cremate them and send your loved ones back to you. We just got Ma back last week, and my father doled out a portion of Ma to both me and my brother (since my father is forever an engineer, we both got exactly half a cup o' Ma). So now Ma is in a Ziploc baggie on my dresser. I was trying to come up with an appropriate vessel to store her in, and my friend Jeb had a brilliant idea. When Ma died, Dad let me have this tarnished old copper watering can that leaks. Why not keep her in there? I like it. The watering can reminds me of Ma, and reminds me of how Ma also took such good care of her house plants. I have one houseplant that is from a clipping of hers, a Christmas cactus. It hasn't bloomed yet, but I haven't killed it yet either, so that's good. But I digress. I'm keeping Ma (in the baggie) in the watering can. It's appropriate. And it's comforting to have her around.

Banana saw the ashes and heard us talking about them, and so she asked how the gray stuff was Grandma. I explained cremation as best as I could, then we got into this conversation about God and Jesus and Mary and Joseph and heaven and what you do with people when they die and all that stuff. She listened intently and seriously, and then said:

"Mom, I have one question for you."

"What is it, honey?"

"How do you spell 'Joseph'?"

I swear, that kid always knows the best things to say in any situation. She also asked me later why people turn into gray powder when they 'get all fired up'. Yet another question for the ages. I feel sometimes like I live with the Sphinx.

***

If you haven't already, go read the latest post by Laurie at Crazy Aunt Purl (link in the side bar, I'm too lazy to do imbedded links). It's really brilliant. I truly admire people who are able to succinctly explain what I sometimes have wandering around inside my skull.

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. :o)

Children, kittens, knitting, the South Pacific, and anniversaries

The Banana came to me one day about two weeks ago, asking to paint some pictures with her poster paints. Why not? I said. I set her up with specific instructions to paint only on the paper, not on the furniture, and not on the walls. Bases covered, right?

Wrong!

She did paint on the paper, and she did not paint on the furniture or the walls. She did, however, paint her hands, arms, legs, and feet, including the soles of her feet. And she painted the floor. It took two tubs full of water to get her clean. Ah, the joy of parenthood yet again.

So we have two new additions to our family, because apparently I am not busy enough with other things. Introducing Joey and Carlos!

Sleepy Joey

Awake Joey

Carlos!

Carlos exploring his new surroundings.

How cute are these damn kittens?? They are littermates, 9 weeks old. We got them from the SPCA, and they are an endless source of amusement for everyone except our 14 year old cat Tino. He is none too pleased. Oh well. He is slowly but surely getting used to them, and we purposefully got two so they would bother each other and leave Tino alone. It seems to be working thus far!


On the knitting front, I have begun the Green Gable, which is coming along just wonderfully. I am using this fabulous yarn called Cestari, which is from a farm in Virginia. It is 67% cotton, 25% wool, and 8% silk. I love it! It is in a lovely tweedy pinkish-red colorway they call Tropical Mist. I definitely recommend it. I also intend to make the Rusted Root from Zephyr Style once I have finished the Green Gable. Can I tell you how much I love top-down raglans?? No finishing! No seaming! Yeah!

Have you guys received the summer issue of Interweave Knits? I got mine today. The spring issue is so great, I have to say that I was a little let down with this issue. I am definitely going to make Katie Himmelberg's Summertime Tunic, and I like the Josephine Top too. At first I thought I liked the 1824 Blouson, but I'm not a huge fan of reverse stockinette, and I really don't think I need to knit something so poufy. So we'll see what happens. It's always fun to look through it no matter what, and I may go for Ann Budd's toe-up sock pattern. It doesn't sound too daunting.

I was reading the Craft-Along blog that my friend Liz belongs to, and a woman named Monica crocheted this positively adorable cropped sweater. I casually volunteered to test-crochet it for her, and she took me up on the offer! I have never done this before, and I'm really excited. I do hope I do a good job!


I received a phone call from my father today! For those of you who aren't aware, my dad has been sailing the South Pacific for the past 5 weeks. He sailed on a tall ship called the Soren Larsen from Auckland, New Zealand to Easter Island. It was a pretty rough trip for him, unfortunately. The weather was utter crap for most of it, and they faced headwinds, which added 500 nautical miles to the length of the trip, which is definitely a significant amount. He only got to spend one full day on Easter Island, but he said it is one of the most amazingly beautiful places he has ever seen in his life. Last night he flew to Tahiti, and guess what? It's RAINING. In TAHITI. For Christ's sake. Dad needs a break. I hope it gets sunny so he can relax on a gorgeous beach with an umbrella drink.

He gets home in less than one week. I can't wait to see him.

***

One year ago today, I was standing in front of Target in Montgomeryville when my father called me and told me that my mother had died. I remember that moment so clearly. It was sunny and warm and breezy, and I had to lean on a bicycle stand to keep from falling down. I looked around and saw a bench and walked over and sat down. I talked to Dad for a few minutes, and then I went inside and bought a car charger for my cell phone. I distinctly remember the salespeople asking me, "How are you today?" It was quite surreal. I wanted to tell them what I had just learned, that while I was getting ready for work, doctors and nurses and aides were trying to get my mother to breathe. And while I was sitting in US History II class, my father was sitting next to my mother and holding her hand for the very last time, and how soft her hand was and how relaxed she was for the first time in two years.

I can't believe that I haven't seen my mother, or heard her voice, or smelled her perfume in one whole year. She is still everywhere, especially at my dad's house. I have several pictures of her around: her college graduation picture in the computer room, a picture of her holding the Banana at Easter 2003 on the mirror in Banana's room, two pictures of her with Dad in the living room. I wear her earrings every day. I miss her humor. I miss shopping with her. I miss listening to her read to the Banana. I miss the phone calls and the emails. I miss having a mom, my Mom. She had red hair and green eyes and freckles. She said "warsh" and "Warshington" even before Mason-Dixon Knitting came out. :o) She liked to dance. She like movies and music. She loved to travel. She loved her family and friends, and we love her.

Miss you Ma. :o*

Musings on life in general

Parenthood

I work at a high school, and so I had off to honor two great American presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The Banana had off today too, so I decided that we should go into downtown Philadelphia and visit the Academy of Natural Sciences, one of my favorite museums. Banana has always had a fascination with butterflies, and as of late she has also been into dinosaurs, and the Academy has both! I myself am also partial to the butterflies and the dioramas which were created in the 1930s, so off we went.

Apparently, every other parent of a school-age child in the Delaware Valley had the same brilliant idea. I also failed to remember that the King Tut exhibit had just opened at the Franklin Institute, which is a stone's throw (literally) from the Academy. So issue #1: parking. I found a garage that wasn't full about 5 blocks away, and proceeded to march through sub-freezing temperatures and gale-force winds to the museum. Thankfully, my dad was waiting for us inside and managed to entertain Banana for the half hour that I stood in line to buy tickets.

Yay! We're in! Off to the dinosaurs we go. We were in the dinosaur room for about 2 minutes when I said, "Hey Banana, let me and Grandpop take your picture!" Now normally, this would not be an issue, but today it was. Tears ensued. After a 5 minute tantrum, off to the dioramas. This was fun for about 10 minutes, then I tried to get Banana to pee, since it was approaching noon and she hadn't peed yet. This child has a bladder of steel and an abject horror of public toilets. Tantrum #2, in the restroom, which involved Banana climbing my leg to avoid being sucked down the toilet. Back out to Dad/Grandpa.

Downstairs to the Tropical Butterfly Garden, which Banana had been asking about for the past 3 days. Slight whining at having to wait in line. Finally, entry was ours. The temperature inside the butterfly garden is about 85 degrees with 100% humidity and extremely bright lights. After approximately 30 seconds, Banana began to chant, "I'm hungry I'm hungry I'm hungry." When I tried to get her to look at the goddamn butterflies and cute little frogs, Tantrum #3 began. Banana and I go back out to lobby for snack and to wait for Grandpa, who is having a grand old time playing with and photographing the butterflies. Food calms the Banana. Then an employee of the museum tells us we can't eat there. Fine. Down to the cafe we go.

The cafe is packed with parents, grandparents, strollers, and 800 bajillion tykes of various sizes. We decide that the cafe is not the peaceful respite we have been searching for and decide to leave.

Enter MegaTantrum.

This involves LimpLegs, NoShoulders, Screaming with RedFace, Inability to Breathe in a Normal Fashion, Kicking, TwoAdult ToddlerCoat Application, AngryMother Hat Application, Grandparent HeadShaking and Cursing, etc. Grandpa walks us back to garage via unplowed/unshoveled Philadelphia sidewalks, Banana screaming at the top of her lungs, "I DON'T WANNA GO HOME! I WANNA STAY HERE! I PROMISE I'LL BE GOOD!" Too late now, my sweet.

We get in the car, start to head home. Banana is placated with bagel.

No TV, no snacks, no lovin' from Mommy upon arrival home. Banana is surprisingly well-behaved. No further arguments, no tears. After about 2 hours at home, I take her on my lap and ask her, "Honey, what went wrong today?"

Ready?

"I was hungry."

Wow.

A hug, a kiss, and back to my crocheting.


Crocheting and Knitting

I currently have eight projects in the works. Eight. I can't even finish a freakin' Sugar n Cream beach bag. I keep starting, starting, starting projects, and finishing none. What the hell. I did get a lot of work done on yet another scrapghan for a dear friend who is going to teach me to sew. I have also made one slipper, one leg warmer, half of a Noro stole, one quarter of a sweater, one row of another sweater, a hat and half of a scarf for a friend's kid, and the aforementioned beach bag. I've been having major motivation issues lately. I've always had problems getting things done in a timely fashion, but I've been really bad lately. I don't know what's wrong with me. Ugh.


My Five Gratefuls

Enough bitching and moaning. My life is not bad. It's good, in fact. And here are 5 things that I am grateful for today (in no particular order):

1. My warm house.

2. My daughter, even in the midst of MegaTantrum.

3. My husband.

4. My dad.

5. My brother.

And last, but not least, some photos that make me happy. Thanks for stopping by.

Poison dart frogs - I love frogs.

Butterflies and flowers - beauty and delicacy.

Pepe, Banana, and Rosebud on Superbowl Sunday with sundry objects serving as hats. Life doesn't get any better than this.