Go See the Magic

Hiya, Gentle Readers....check out our Family Blog for a great little slide show of our trip to Disneyland Paris, made by Darling Husband of Mine.

Knitting...not so much this past week. I did work on Wedgie while I waited for the Disney Princess parade to start, so that was fun, but it's still got a skein to go, maybe two if I decide to make it superduper-long.

I'm Baaaack.

Yes, we made it home from our EuroDisney trip, and everyone had a really lovely time! I will post pictures when I get settled. The last two days have been unpack/recover days, but today was a "migraine from nowhere" day and I ended up crawling into a dark room to hide under the covers for almost 5 hours. I'm up now, but there's still a fraction of headache left, which means I still have a really bad headache, just not a "my head is going to explode" headache.

Let me get through this day, and perhaps tomorrow will improve!

Just to Say Howdy!

Checking in to tell you, Gentle Readers, that I am officially the baddest bowler of the ladies who gathered on Tuesday. Sounds better than the WORST bowler, doesn't it? I seriously contemplated putting up the bumpers on the lane, but I was laughing too hard at my ineptitude to do it. 50-odd points. A new low in bowling scores for me, I think. It just makes me want to go back again soon, though. I know I can improve THAT score.

Noro Wedgie continues to grow pretty fast, although I only sat down to do one wedge last night. I am getting the exact gauge, and I think I may even use three balls instead of just two. I like a long Tom Baker-length scarf and the color changes on this are really fun to watch. As I get through the third set of repeats, I'm finding that I can "feel" the flow of the pattern, and I don't have to keep count as ruthlessly as I was two nights ago. Really really nice!

I got an unexpected, and lovely, knitting gift yesterday - thank you, Not-so-secret Pal! Speaking of lovely things, check out this knitting shop/site, kpixie.com. Drool, drool, drool. Sock yarns are calling my name pretty loudly right now...

Wedgie Update

Heh heh. That pattern name makes me snicker. Heh heh. But the pattern is terrific! I had a bit of a hitch figuring out the wrap and turn of a short row, but then all became clear, and I'm sailing along. I did the first 4 sections, and here's a progress shot. Not much time to knit today, as I had a bunch of errands and then a ladies' night out (bowling - wheeee! Boy, am I bad at bowling...). But here's what my Wedgie looks like so far. It definitely showcases the Noro colorshifts, and size 5 needles are giving me a FIRM enough fabric while still being relaxed knitting.

Noro Joy!!!

I have just seen a pattern that is perfect (perfect I tell you) for my beloved, yet annoyingly un-knit-up-able, Noro Kureyon yarn. Check out the Happy Camper and this post of hers. Scroll down to see her Noro version...I also love that colorway.

I'm going to give it a spin this afternoon, and see what happens - the pattern's very different from anything I have tried. Lots and lots of short rows, which I haven't tackled before. Oooh, a challenge!!

I'm still here...

Sorry for the lack of Knitterly Content, or any other sorts of content, actually. I've been sorta focused on Le Health Spa blog page, and haven't felt like knitting on anything.

I did pull out the Sari Silk Scarf I've almost finished, and I've stashed it in my purse for on-the-go knitting, like when I am on Tae Kwon Do waiting duty.

I can't get excited about socks, I can't get motivated for the shawl, and I'm not ready to dedicate myself to Ivy yet. It remains my absolute favorite thing from the fall issue of Knitty, however.

I actually seamed the shoulders of my Noro vest and wore it for an afternoon (all it lacks is a zipper, and the final round of I-cord edging around the armholes, which I was considering skipping. That was very disappointing. The vest just draaaags down, and looks very stretched out and ... odd. I can't even call it a Boho Chic feature, or anything. I was SO pleased to have found a pattern that showed off the coloring and could be knit to my dimensions.

In my heart, and my head, I know what the problem is: I knit the Noro too loosely. That's usually my problem. If you have ever seen my knitting in person, you will see that I am the most "Relaxed gauge" knitter there ever was. Makes for a mellow knitting session, but explains why I must knit socks on size 0 needles or smaller. But I can't imagine reknitting the same vest all over again in a tighter gauge. Especially since I don't love how it looks right now. It's hard to picture it looking good, KWIM?

I don't know what I want to do next with this yarn. [Whine, whine, whine.] I love it, love the colors and the feel, but I'm running out of ideas. I might try some mitred squares, but again, I have to watch the gauge. Do I have to knit this stuff on size 3 (US) needles to get a non-floppy fabric? Ai yi yi.

I have a feeling it would lend itself to felting. Anyone out there used Noro Kureyon in a felted project? That sorta limits the projects to...oh, a bag. I don't want or need a felted hat. Felted slippers out of Noro - seems awfully decadent. Maybe I need some decadent. Or maybe a multidirectional scarf. Or six. I have a LOT of this Noro.

My Darling

Today is my Darling David's birthday - he's MUCH, MUCH, MUCH older than I am. Almost a month, even.

Kisses to you, today, baby! You get better with every passing year, and I am so very lucky.

Guilty Pleasures....

Oh, yes...the rich, creamy awfulness that is Celebrity Big Brother UK. We are sooooo there. Watching the entries now - so far, my favorites are some SClub7 popstar and old disco popstar Leo Sayer (?). Oddest and probably most drunk - director Ken Russell. Now, we have some gossip columnist coming in....ooooh, the meowness. I think there are live feeds free on that link above.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha - now I have passed the madness on.

New Link for you, Gentle Readers

I'll be blogging in a separate spot about weight loss, fitness, the universe, and everything - so if you want to see progress pics, hear progress news, read my whining, send ecncouragement, or anything like that, check out the Health Spa link at left. And if that's not your bag, baby, it won't be cluttering up the clutter that is the Knit Farm. Heh.

Happy New Year!

We had a lovely, quiet New Year's Eve. Small D stayed up to see midnight in, but just barely...He turned 8 a few days back, between Christmas and New Year's.

I love this picture with his cake. By the by, we ate one slice each and threw the rest away. Kids don't like any part but the frosting, but the grownups like it all. Too much!

Some Quick Entertainment

This is funny (and festive).





This is funnier.



This is hilarious but really not safe for kids.

Wonderful Day

Christmas Day - terrific from beginning to end, even if small D. did wake up at 4-odd in the morning because he was so excited. He ended up sleeping in our bed until Lily came in at 8 to wake us all. Santa brought lovely things, family and friends sent wonderful things, and even Mommy and Daddy gave some nice things. Mommy and Daddy even got a present or two of their own.

Dinner was yummy, we got to speak to all the grandparents, and there was a Doctor Who Christmas episode. True excitement for the kid who got a TARDIS playset from Santa.




Here's a nice shot of the shop that Santa left - we've since changed the shopkeeper's chair for a shorter one that fits better.

Check out the Family Blog for a few more pictures of the kids enjoying some of their gifts...

Merry Christmas, Gentle Reader

Wherever you may be, know that I wish you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year ahead. May your Christmas have love and friends, family and fun!

And maybe some quality knitting time by the fireplace, with glass of delicious mulled wine close at hand, and your sweetie by your side. Sounds really nice to me. I'm just sayin'...

Fortunate

A fortunate Festivus to you, Gentle Reader!!

My Fortune Cookie told me: Tomorrow will be an excellent day for putting Slinkies on an escalator. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Too true! Especially if anyone is out there heading to the shops on Christmas Eve. Hoping like heck that WON'T be me. We're done here. Kinda need a bit more cello tape, however.

Joke for ya; Festivus decor

First, a great joke from small David.


Q: What do misers do when it's cold?
A: Sit round a candle.


Q: What do misers do when it's VERY cold?
A: Light it.



The pantomime was HILARIOUS and great fun for everyone. Highly recommend them...



Here's a picture of David with the Festivus pole - unadorned, as per Festivus tradition.

Dude has a new blog!

Papa's got a brand new blog, just in time for Festivus. I expect humor and curmudgeonry abounding...Today we are off to see our first pantomime - panto is huge here in England at the holidays. This one is Jack and the Beanstalk. Should be a hoot.

Decorated for Christmas

Here's that dollhouse - all greeneried for Christmas. David wants the Borrowers to come live in it...so do I, actually.

FitDay

Not much happening here as we hit Day 1 of the Christmas break. Everyone is off work and school, and we are reveling in the late wake-up. Today's activity plan: decorate the dollhouse for Christmas. This is a dollhouse I won in a raffle at the Sandringham Flower Show this summer. The kids and I have gotten some bits of furniture for it, but now it's time to put the greenery on. Picture will follow...

The other activity going on around here is tracking food that we (adults) eat - D. is using the Weight Watchers site and I am using FitDay. Gotta say - for a free service, it's pretty spiffy. I can add custom foods quite easily. The only hassle is adding custom recipes - have to do lots of math BEFORE I get it added in. Or I can track them an ingredient at a time. It all works, somehow.

Rather than gaining ANOTHER 5 pounds over the holiday, the goal is to lose a pound or two before grooving into the New Year with some more weight loss

Critical Mass

Tonight, we have achieved something I fear - my daughter has enough of her favorite color clothing to make an entire laundry load of PINK. Perhaps I can encourage a new attachment to loden, or violet, or burnt sienna...

In which I consider the relative joys of Festivus...

Yes, there are times I can see the beauty in the simple aluminum pole and non-rituals of Festivus. This afternoon? Oh, that might be such a time...

On the plus side of Christmas preparations, there are many things. First, I found a rocking Christmas music internet radio station with a true mix of tunes, all of which I've enjoyed so far. Check out Superjukebox. Only the occasional plea for funds, and I like 'em so much I may just make a donation!

We were able to pass on some Christmas love by giving Lily's old toddler bed to a new toddler through Freecycle this afternoon. So her lovely Pottery Barn-looking pine bed will help another New Big Girl sleep well...that's cool.

I had a great time with Lily this afternoon, mixing up a great big batch of sugar cookie dough. Tasty stuff. That's more Christmas love, as we are making the cookies for single airmen who are here in the dorms (barracks) far away from family at the holidays.

On the minus side, oh, let's see - ahhh, yes. The fact that I somehow FORGOT about the BAKING POWDER for the entire batch of dough, and didn't realize this until we had rolled and chilled all of it, and were cutting the first batch of cookies to bake.

Yes, that was a minus. It was even an opportunity for me to use colorful language. LOTS of colorful language. I'll need more flour AND more butter before I redo these the right way, because I am just about out of both. Sigh...

So, on to a plus. We do have two dozen chocolate chip cookies done (these were the slice and bake jobs but the kids added their special sprinkles touch to each one). Made those already while the "sugar cookie" dough was chilling.

Furthermore, I have made great flourless peanut butter cookies before, and they're dead easy to do. Even had organic PB around so they wouldn't taste totally of sugar. They took no time at all to make up, and David rolled each one in sugar for sparkly good looks.

Oh, wait, a minus! The cookie baking is supposed to be nut-free to avoid allergy issues in any recipients. However, we decided that might just be a plus, because it means 2 dozen cookies are going to be eaten right here at home...

And a final plus - the test batch of "sugar cookies" that I went ahead with tasted just like boring but good pie crust. So I have taken some of the batch and I'm baking a crust right now. We'll have an apple tart from it, at least.

No, wait, another final plus - because I'm a DOOFUS, the house will smell of baking cookies for two days instead of one. I love Christmas, you guys!

Signing off for a coffee and one of the non-givable peanut butter cookies now..