Thursday, January 30, 2014

Snow Days

In case you didn't know, Atlanta got dumped with about 3 inches of snow on Tuesday.  It wouldn't have been so bad, except that I don't think people really thought that we'd get it.  Snow is rare around here, but when it hits, it's debilitating.  The roads are curvy, and narrow, and hilly, and ice accumulates quickly.  We don't have a lot of salt trucks, since we rarely get snow, and it takes a long time for us to salt and sand roads once they do become icy.  I've lived in several places where snow was a regular occurrence, and I can tell you - it's just different here.  I did start my socks, and got a good ways down the leg, when I realized that I messed up the pattern.  So, out it went.  I know, I know - it wouldn't really have mattered, but they are mine, there's no deadline, and I can be particular about them.  I'm using this pattern:


It's called Business Casual, and it's from Tanis Fiber Arts.  I've admired her patterns for a while, and so far it's a great pattern.  Provided that I don't screw it up.  It usually comes down to a user error for me.  And that's okay - I can usually fix it.  I'm looking forward to having the first one done this weekend, and the second sock may get delayed a bit, as my busy time at work is coming up, and that means late nights and not a whole lot of knitting time.

In other news, Princess' tooth is fine, and Little Man lost his very first tooth today!  My babies are growing up, and it's wonderful to watch.  What have you been doing the past couple of days?  Have you been staying warm and wearing woollies, or just knitting them up?


Friday, January 24, 2014

Still Sick

I'm still sick - but getting better.  It's amazing how hard a cold can hit you when you're pregnant, and the weather goes from being 60 to being 20 in a matter of 2-3 days.  The camera is still missing - I have no idea to where it disappeared.  I finished knitting and seaming the slippers - now I just have to felt them.  They are incredibly easy to knit, and the seaming is easy, if you can pay attention to it.  Now, I'm deciding between starting my socks, or starting a sweater for Princess.  My goal for January would tell me to do my socks, and I think I will start them tonight, unless Downton Abbey distracts me.


Hubby bought me Seasons 1-4 for Christmas.  We're up to about the middle of Season 3 - no spoilers please!  I already know more than I want to about what happens in Season 3, and I don't want to know what happens in Season 4 until I watch it!  Speaking of Christmas presents, I also received this:



It's amazing to see what actually happens on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.  Barbara Parry breaks it down by season, and goes into detail about all the good, bad, and ugly of owning a sheep farm.  It's very informative about sheep and the life of a shepherd.  I highly recommend it if you've thought about owning even just one sheep or are curious about what it would take to own one.  It's also a great resource about some types of sheep and some great modifications modern farms need.  What have you been up to recently?

Monday, January 20, 2014

Slowing down

I finished the sweater, and still can't find the camera.  Trust me, he loved it.  He put it on, and it fit great.  It was slightly big, so he can wear a shirt under it, and he may be able to wear it next year as well.

I also started the French Press Slippers, and they are all knitted.  I had markers in it, then removed them, then put them back.  After watching the tutorial for seaming, I think I may iron the pieces slightly so they don't curl as much.  It's a little hard to see the edges, as they do curl a lot.  I'm sure though that I'll make this pattern again - it's easy and fun.


I still have one more item to knit for this month, in order to keep up with my goals.  So, I'm really not doing too bad.  However, I'm feeling a little under the weather.  I think the cold that's been going around my office has finally struck me.  I'm fighting it for all I'm worth, but if not, it could definitely slow me down.  Sleep, fluids, and soup will be my mantra.  I'd really like a pair of socks, though.



Thursday, January 16, 2014

Moving along

Well, the birthday sweater is almost done - I'm on the collar.  I wish I could show you a picture, but my camera has gone MIA.  I hope that over the weekend I find it and can take pictures for you.  I'm going to finish it, and then start on my slippers.  I think I can get them knit up over the weekend, as I hear the pattern is really fast.


As for an update on Princess, she's doing fine.  The tooth is still a little loose, but we think it's healing.  She's still on a soft foods diet, which basically means no crackers.  This week has been up and down, but a lot of family time.  I was planning on going to Knit Night at The Whole Nine Yarns on Tuesday, but traffic was so bad, I didn't bother.  Somehow, there were several intersections blocked and I figured that by the time I got there, it'd be time to come back home.  It was tough for me to even get into my neighborhood.  What are you working on?



Saturday, January 11, 2014

Emergency

So, yesterday was my 10th anniversary.  I've been married to the same wonderful man for 10 wonderful years.  We've had our ups and downs, but we've made it through together.  We've had 2 beautiful children, with a third on the way, and love every second of our children and our life together.  However, instead of having a lovely at-home celebration, I was greeted with my husband clutching my daughter to his chest, ushering our son out of the house, and hurrying to the car.



Apparently, just as I was leaving work, she fell and knocked out one of her front teeth.  Hubby had managed to put it back in, but we had to rush to a dentist that was open.  He tried to make a brace across her four front teeth, but with no luck (he was not a pediatric dentist, but did do the best he could, so it's not really his fault).  We're hoping the tooth stays, with no real damage, and she makes a full recovery.  Help us pray that the beautiful smile stays, and the bruises heal.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Resolutions...or Goals...or Something for January

I've seen a lot of debate about making "resolutions" versus "goals" for the new year.  Whatever you call it, it's always nice to start with a fresh page for the new year.  I have a few myself for the month of January:


  1. Little Man's Birthday Sweater, which I already started
  2. Socks for me
  3. Slippers for me
  4. Organizing the house, little by little each week
  5. Blogging at least twice a week
This list hopefully will continue to rotate, and I'll make progress on all the items listed above.  Can you keep me accountable for #5?  If I don't blog at least twice week, then send me a message via Ravelry (angelfire212).  Maybe that will help me out!  Sometimes I just quite honestly forget. How about you?  Do you have any New Year's resolutions or goals?

Saturday, January 04, 2014

Starting Fresh

I've been so busy with Christmas, I haven't had much time for anything else.  I did finish all the Christmas gifts, but the last one took me until the 29th.  I had some yarn left, since I changed mid-stream and didn't knit socks for everyone.


Now, it's time for the annual birthday sweater of Little Man.  He wanted a green one, and I'm using Vintage #5135, which is a lovely shade of Kelly Green.  The picture above is close, but looks a little more blue than it really is.  It's sweater weather around here.  As a matter of fact, it's supposed to snow tomorrow.  But here's the pattern he picked:

Soledad, courtesy of Annika Barranti
Simple, but still interesting.  I did a sleeve as a swatch, and even though the pattern calls for DK yarn, and I'm using worsted, I upped the needle size, and still came out with the right gauge.  I'm also making the largest size, as he's growing like a weed.  Did I tell you that he now has his first loose tooth?!  He does.  My baby is growing up.  It's going to be the year for change.  What's your plan for the new year?