My Teenager

It hardly seems possible that 13 years have gone since Joseph was born. I remember that time so well. He wash't due until mid January and suddenly my blood pressure decided to spike. The doctor promptly put me in the hospital and after 24 hours decided it was best to induce. I cried and cried and cried because my ex's birthday is December 22nd. I wanted my child born any day except the 22nd. It wasn't meant to be. I laugh when I remember that time and just how upset I was. He is such a young man now. I grow more and more proud of him each day.

Someone swiped the hat that they had at Montana's so they now have this new one. I liked the old one better but no matter which hat, Joseph looks great.

This is the final package from my SP11 spoiler, Penny. Just look at all this stuff. The fibre is from Lorna's laces and its called Purple Club, I believe and it's 100% merino. The cinnamon candle, at first I thought it was a real cinnamon bun. It smells just like one. The earrings and necklace are great. Paul and Joseph will enjoy the marshmellows. I hope they are gone by the time I get back from NY. I've had the tea before and it is very good. I haven't tried the other stuff but I am going to take the hand cream, shower gel, and lip balm to NY with me. Once again, thank you Penny. I love everything you sent. I'll let you know in April what I get from Red Bird Knits when I get something at the Knitter's Frolic.

The first of my Regia Galaxy socks is almost done. I was afraid they wouldn't turn out like the pictures but they look great. I love the way this yarn is working up. I hope I can get the second sock done while I am in NY but I am not sure how much knitting time I'll get in. I know from past experience that if I get to pick up my needles I'll be lucky. I can always hope.

I was going to bring the Louet Victoria with me but Paul said I should wait and take it in the summer. He is worried the wheel won't survive the trip if I pack it in a suitcase. So I am going to take his advice and wait.

I don't know how much blogging I'll get done while I am away as well so I am going to sign off and wish everyone who is celebrating a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to another year of blogging. Thank you to everyone who reads my blog.

Early Present

Last year Paul kept looking and looking at HDTVs but we knew we really shouldn't get it. We probably shouldn't have gotten one now either but with the sales Paul finally caved. We went and picked this up this morning. It's a 32" Samsung HDTV. It also comes with free HD box for a year. I'm not sure what that means but Paul will look into it. I'll see how it all plays out when I get back from NYC next month.

I also received my final SP11 package from Penny. I love love love everything she sent. There's lavendar hand cream, lavendar body wash, coconut lip balm, a cinnamon danish candle, coconut covered marshmellows, and a bunch of other things including some YUMMY gorgeous purple fibre from Lorna's Laces. I have to take pictures of everything and I will later today. After running around since 6:30 this morning I now have to go to my in-laws and do laundry so I have clothing to pack for my trip. Then we are taking Joseph out to dinner because today my son became a man. He's now 13. We're going to Montana's and I will find it interesting to see if he wants to wear the hat again like he did last year. I'll update with pictures later tonight.

Have a wonderful day everyone and try not to rush around and go too insane with the few days remaining before Christmas.

I finished the snowflake socks on Sunday. Life has been so hectic I never got around to taking pictures. I am very pleased with the final result. I know the snowflakes are not as noticeable as they would be if I had used another colour but this works for me. I used Stahl sock yarn in a blue denim colour. I used 32 cm, 2mm Knit Picks Harmony needles and worked my socks with the magic loop method.

Life Is Never Easy

I just spoke to my daughter Henny and Yoni fell on the ice during recess and broke his wrist in two places. This is very distressing to me because 3 years ago he had broken a bone in his leg very badly and had to have surgery. At that time the doctor put pins in instead of a cast and he had the pins in until February. That was the same bone he broke when he was 3 or 4 (I can't remember) the first week he was in day camp that summer. It is my understanding there was a tumor on the bone that weakened it and that is why the same bone broke again, even though it was in a different spot. He had surgery after the leg healed and the surgeon said all was fine and there was nothing more to be concerned about.

Yoni's Bar Mitzvah is on December 30th. That's why I am going to NYC on Sunday. I need to stop scheduling trips. The last time I was supposed to go to NY, in May, I left early because Shayna's appendix ruptured and she was in the hospital. I changed my ticket and left early so I could help Henny out. Henny said they have to go back to the doctor on Friday to make sure the bones were set properly. The doctor said things might shift when the swelling goes down so they will need to do another x-ray to check how things are. Oh and the doctor said there's nothing wrong with his bones. That was a question I asked after all this. He said the only reason it broke is because Yoni fell.

This child has been through so much in his young life. I know there are children that have had worse. Believe me it has not been easy on him. You couldn't wish for a better child. He is so good. He takes these things in stride. To my utter astonishment, he loves needles. I remember when the doctor told me I was going to have to have Lupron injections every 3 months as part of my cancer treatment I was not a happy camper. I was talking to Henny on the phone and Yoni gets on and tells me "Don't' worry, it's not that bad." I love that boy. My heart breaks for everything that he has gone through. Enough already!!!!

Let It Snow!

This is the reason I had to get all my errands done after work on Friday and yesterday. It's snowing like crazy outside. We are supposed to get between 15cm and 25 cm. That's about 6in. to 10in. for those of you that don't get metric.

I am glad that today is a Sunday so I don't have to go out. If it had been tomorrow then I'd be out driving in it. That's never pleasant for me. However, with the weather outside being so frightful today is the perfect day to just veg and knit. I hope I can most of the second snowflake sock done today. I just finished turning the heel so depending on how much knitting time I actually get, I might manage to finish it.

Busy Busy Busy

Between yesterday afternoon and now I'm pooped. As you already know, after work yesterday I went to Costco and then to The Purple Purl. This morning I woke up around 4am and couldn't fall back to sleep. My brain just wouldn't stop thinking and everything I tried failed to get me sleeping again. I finally gave up around 5:00 and decided my time would be better served getting dressed and leaving the house early to start on the long list of things I needed to do.

I know a lot of you out there can't stand Wal Mart but for me on a night when sleep was elusive, Wal Mart's open 24 hours until Christmas was just the right thing. I left here by 5:30, went to Wal Mart, finished there, went to the grocery store that's open 24 hours and then came home. That was around 7:45. I tried getting some knitting done and then started dozing and figured I could finally get some sleep. Nope, that didn't work either. My brains just started working overtime again and sleep, once again, was out of the question. I gave up and left the house by 9 and went clothing shopping for my trip to New York. I first went to Addition-Elle and looked at a few things. I bought some pajamas, a robe, and a very nice top that can go along with a black skirt. I also bought a sleeveless turtle neck top to go under the blue shiny top so it would be appropriate for the function I am going to. Then I went to Penningtons and found a very nice camisole that will work better than the sleeveless turtle neck. So back to Addition-Elle I went to return the turtle neck and a skirt I bought. I finally got home around noon and I'm still not able to crash. I see a very early bedtime in my future for tonight.

Change of Plans

I had my weekend all planned out. I knew I didn't want to tackle Costco on the weekend so I was going to go there today after work and then get Joseph from his grandparents. Tomorrow I was going to go to Wal Mart very early in the morning and then go the Purple Purl to get some things that were left there for me, then come home and run more errands. Sunday is laundry day by the in-laws.

The weather forecast is calling for snow to start tomorrow night and continue all day Sunday. We should get around 20 cm of snow, or 8 inches for you non metric people. That means everything had to be shifted. I still went to Costco tonight but from there I went to The Purple Purl. Of course the plan was for me to go, pick up what was there, have a quick look around and then leave. Hah hah hah. I should have known better. That place is so inviting, it is impossible to walk in and walk out. I got there around 4:30 and left around 7:00.

In addition to the stuff that was waiting for me I also came home with these. It's Malabrigo lace weight. It's 470 yds to 50 grams and the colourway is Emerald Blue. I think I am going to use this for the SOTSII.

I'll have more information about what was waiting for me at The Purl tomorrow.

Early Birthday

Remember that wish list I told you about? Joseph's wish was to get an Xbox 360. He's been wanting one for a long time but we don't have an HDtv and Paul kept saying there are problems with the system that still needs to be worked out. On Tuesday Joseph got his Christmas and birthday gift from his grandfather. He's also saved $260 over time. He decided he wanted the Xbox Elite, so, armed with the saved money, the money from his grandfather and the balance from Paul and I, the console was picked up yesterday. Joseph is a very happy camper today. My understanding is that even with the non HDtv the picture is really good. Eventually, when we get an HDtv it will be even better.

Now I need your help. I have a question for all the moms out there that read my blog. Can you tell me what you think is an appropriate allowance a 13 year old (OK he'll be 13 next Saturday). This will help settle a discussion Paul and I have been having. He says $10 per week and maybe it's because in my day it wasn't even a dollar. I think that is way too much money. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks.

On the knitting front, I have not touched my needles since the weekend. The cold is better but I've been so tired I just haven't had the strength to knit. It's a sad fact but I hope to correct that tonight. Of course I've been saying that every night and haven't been successful.

I am tired of the snow. I know it's only December and there is still a LONG winter ahead but we've been getting lots of nasty weather here in Toronto of late. On Tuesday we have a very nice mixed bag of just about everything that ended in rain and then it all flash froze for yesterday morning. When I took Joseph to school yesterday the parking lot was a skating rink. My car went slip sliding away but thankfully the lot was empty so I was alright. I turned around and dropped him off in front of the school so he wouldn't have to navigate on the ice. Today we are supposed to get snow again and it looks like flurries for tomorrow and Saturday and heavy snow again on Sunday. I want to get to the Purple Purl on Saturday so I am hoping it isn't going to be too bad. December 23rd is my day to go to NYC so I hope the weather will be alright for that.

Wish Lists

Paul said this morning "Neither you or Joseph have given me your wish list." To which I replied I only want one thing and every penny I get from the people at work or gifts this year is going to go towards that one thing. What is that thing you might ask? It's this - The Majacraft Suzie Pro. I've thought a long time about this. I love the Rose as well but I already have the Little Gem and I bought the fast whorl so I decided the extra expense of the Rose would better be served by getting fibre or more accessories. Once I decided on the Suzie I needed to decide which one. I knew I wanted either the Pro or the Alpaca because I've heard the heaviness of the wheel makes treadling easier. I LOVE the look of the alpaca and now with the black wheel it is even more tempting. The reason I decided on the pro is the ratios. The pro has higher ratios than the alpaca so that is what is on my wish list. I won't have it for Christmas but that's alright (I won't be here anyway). I plan on picking it up the last week in April at the Knitter's Frolic here in Toronto. I've already got the Woolee Winder and I will get the fast head for it.

Joseph, he said he wants an Xbox 360. I think it's kinda silly since we don't have an HDTV yet but I have a feeling he'll end up with one in the not too distant future.

The cold is still visiting but I think I might be starting to turn that corner. I actually got some sleep last night. I haven't picked up knitting needles since Friday but I think I might actually get some knitting time in this afternoon. We are having our Christmas lunch at work today and I think I am going to go home and rest instead. We are supposed to get some freezing rain and nasty weather today so I will just stay home and relax until I have to get Joseph from school and hope by then the freezing rain has changed to rain.

All Tuffed Up!

My head feels like it is going to explode. My nose is all stuffed up and I can hardly breathe. Now I just want my head back. Did someone find it floating in the sewer somewhere? That's how it feels. If you should find it somewhere please return to owner at the earliest possible minute.

December 4, 2007

Snb night was fun as always. I delivered the puzzle scarf to Shannon. I am glad the length was fine and, yes, I did have a chance to block it before I gave it to her.

I have to say thank you once again to Jennifer for my scarf. It really came in handy tonight. It was pretty cold out there when we left Starbucks and the scarf helped me stay toasty warm while I cleaned the snow off my car.

Lots To Report

I have finally completed my Campanula socks. By the time I was done I sort of got the pattern but I still had to glance at the chart for each round to make sure I did not make a mistake.

The yarn I used is Tofutsie and I don't like this yarn at all. I don't think I will be using it again for anything, much less socks. I don't think these socks are going to hold their shape like they would if I had used something like wool. I will knit this pattern again one of these days in a solid colour wool yarn.


Maybe I'll use the gorgeous purple colour sock yarn I received from my ISE5 partner, Jennifer. She sent me an amazing scarf. How did she know that after lace, aran is my next favourite kind of patterns to knit? Just look at everything. It all came in a Christmas shopping bag that I couldn't fit in the picture. The yarn is in a great yarn holder that has holes at the sides to feed the yarn through. This will protect the yarn from falling out and rolling all over the place. I can see it coming in very handy when I am flying to NY at the end of this month.

I love the gift tags, picture bookmark, magnetic list (will come in very handy when I am doing the shopping list), tea that I can't wait to try, hand cream, great snow flakes for the tree, and a manicure kit. Jennifer REALLY must have been reading my mind with that one because for days I have been telling myself I have to go buy a metal nail file and there is one in there so now I don't have to worry about it anymore. How telepathic is that?

I also got around to blocking the mystery stole 3 aka Swan Lake Stole this weekend. I have blocking wires and as soon as I figure out where I hid them I am going to block this stole again. I don't like the marks that are left from the pins but you can still see the overall beauty of this stole. I have a very difficult time bending over the bed trying to pin this and I wouldn't have managed to do it without Paul's help. When my back couldn't do it anymore he took over. I wasn't sure I would like the wing part but in the end I do.