a-chan knits!

Hmm... anything else?

2012-02-14T09:25:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to come up with some things to bring me up to date with the blog.

We went to Hawaii again (seems to be a yearly event). And look!

My mom came with us! It was her first time in Hawaii in like 30 years. It was fun to share our "life" in Hawaii with her.

Sabrina & Nana:

The reason for our trip, Richard's cousin (Don) graduated from high school!

This is the tradition in Hawaii. Everyone piles leis on the graduate. It was kind of fun to watch. Someone holds a sign up with the graduate's picture/name so everyone can see where they are.

We didn't plan it this way, but our nephew (Alexander Pono, AJ for short... Alex Jr.) was born 2 weeks before we got there. We all had colds, so we had to wait a week before we could go see him. Isn't he cute? He's already crawling! I can't wait to see him this summer (if/when we go).

It's not a trip to Maui without doing some touristy things.

Like the Atlantis submarine (first time for this!). Sabrina was just barely tall enough.

My mom's gotta work on her shaka:

Uncle Alex took us to the high school's field to play with his dog (Kala).

And of course we spent time at the beach.

Shave ice at our new fave stand Ululani's

If you're ever on Maui, this is the shave ice to get! They make most of their own syrups (their webpage says it's now 100%) and they use Roselani's ice cream. Yum! Plus, they started in Portland (who knew, right?) We found out because I was wearing my Blazer shirt one day when we got shave ice and had a good conversation with the owner.

I take so many pictures, it's hard to choose which ones I like the best. Our first morning there, we took my mom up to Haleakala since it's like one of the #1 THINGS TO DO.

I really need to clean my camera (I'm a little scared and apparently camera shops won't do it). This is my fave, some people don't get it:

I guess that's all for now, I didn't realize how long this would get when I started!

50 books in one year, 2011 follow-up

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

When I last left this blog, I was professing how this was the year I was going to make my goal of 50 books. I didn't. But I've come to live with that. With knitting, working full time, and now having two kids... well, it just wasn't a practical goal. This year, my goal is 30 books. I think I can do it, maybe even more. I got a Kindle Fire so I can read while on my pumping breaks. I've already finished my first book of the year and most of the way through with a second.

Anyways, my last years list looks like this:

January
1 Gone-Away Lake - Elizabeth Enright
2 Return to Gone-Away Lake - Elizabeth Enright
3 The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - Trenton Lee Stewart
4 The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma - Trenton Lee Stewart
February
5 The Stranger - Alburt Camus
March
6 The Glass Dragon - Irene Radford
7 The Perfect Princess - Irene Radford
8 The Loneliest Magician - Irene Radford
9 The Wizard’s Treasure - Irene Radford
10 Marionette’s, Inc. - Ray Bradbury
11 Harmony - C.F. Bentley/Irene Radford
April
12 Enigma - C.F. Bentley/Irene Radford
May
13 The Postman - David Brin
14-28. OZ series - L. Frank Baum
December
29. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Not too bad, I guess. This year I'm going to try to read more books I've never read before. I'll still be doing some re-reading. I really want to make my way through LOTRs again and the Earthsea series.
This year's list:
January
1. Farmer Boy
2. Little Men
Currently reading: Jo's Boys

Rapunzel, let down your golden hair!

2012-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sabrina loves Tangled. She had been saying that she would be Rapunzel for months. So I bought the pattern (which was over my head since I don't do much sewing). With the help of my aunt and friend, I dumbed down the pattern a bit. It's a pattern for Princess Rapunzel, not the Rapunzel you see in most of the movie.

If you read the post before this, you know I finished it with literally hours to spare.

She loves it and that's all that really matters. I got this light pink cord to lace the front up, but it won't stay tied. I finally replaced it with some white ribbon (since she's wearing the dress at least once a week, my mom even let her wear it to church). I might get some better matching ribbon eventually, but she doesn't seem to care.

If I ever make Rapunzel hair again, I'm going to do it differently. The pattern is wrong in it's measurements, so I wasted a skein of yarn trying to figure it out... cheap yarn, I should say.

Sadly, Elias didn't get a costume. I wanted to buy one, but Richard said no since he wasn't suppose to be here until November. Next time, I won't listen (not like I'd want next time to be another Halloween baby, 2 scorpios in the house are plenty).

The best Halloween ever!

2012-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

Elias Alanui Yago
10/31/2011, 7:09am
6lbs 9oz, 19" long

Let's see how short I can make this labor story. I don't know who will even see this, so I'll go shorter than on ravelry, but longer than Facebook.

I was working on Sabrina's Rapunzel costume until 12am. I didn't have any notable contractions, I'd been having small ones off and on for a week or so. Mostly just Braxton Hicks. Anyways, at midnight I decided I was done enough with the dress for her to wear it trick or treating and we could finish up some last minute things in the morning. I had purposefully taken Halloween off so we could have a fun day, making caramel apples and doing crafts. My last thought as I was drifting off to sleep was "I guess I won't be having a Halloween baby after all." (since my labor with Sabrina was over 25 hrs).

I woke up 2 hours later in active labor. Richard was sleeping downstairs, but I waited an hour before I went down there. I thought it was going to be a false alarm. I called my mom at 3 something because she lives 45 minutes away and she was going to come and stay with Bina. I called the advice nurse, who told me to drink 4 glasses of water and take a warm bath "to see if it stops" (I told her I was having very painful contractions, but she didn't believe me because I was talking to her through them). My mom got there after 5, she told me I could ignore the advice nurse, but to sip water and take a shower. I knew something was wrong as soon as I got it the shower. If I moved, I would have another contraction. So I got out, slowly.

I laid on the couch for awhile, my mom trying to tell me to get up and walk through them. (oh boy, this is getting long, sorry!) I told her I couldn't. Richard and her were talking and I yelled at them to stop talking. Then I said, we need to go, this isn't right. My mom gave in. She thought I was being a wuss, but I told her that the worse thing that would happen would be that they'd send me home if I wasn't ready.

I knew this labor was different than my first. I have a very high pain tolerance, but I was crying through contractions. Part way down the road I realized we forgot the camera... I said "screw the camera."

The walk down the hall to labor and delivery is a long one. I had multiple contractions, having to lean against the wall. The receptionist called down the hall "do you want a wheelchair" "No, I'm fine." Once we got there, she did a quick and dirty check-in, cuz she realized I was on the verge of having the baby. I kind of felt like I was going to have him right there. They got me into triage, sent me to the bathroom to empty my bladder and get the gown on. I thought I was having the baby on the toilet, so I called Richard in to help me. We had to get the triage nurse to help me into the gown. As soon as I was down on the bed, I wanted them to check me. But first, they had to take my vitals. grr, I felt like I needed to push already.

In walks my midwife (thank goodness she was there already!) and says "Let's check you" I was at an 8. The triage nurse was talking to me about pain meds, but my midwife cut her off and told me that she had to be honest with me, there was no time for meds .They didn't let me get off the triage bed, they wheeled it down to the delivery room. She checked again (since I sounded pushy) and I was at a 10 and free to push. It's funny how you can go from an 8 to a 10 in the few minutes it took to get to the delivery room.

They put my iv in between pushes. He was out within 5, 30 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. I tore, rather badly. I was glad they put the iv in, so they gave me something for the pain while they sewed me back up (that took a long time).

(oh boy, I think this is longer than my story on Ravelry. Maybe I should have just cut and pasted it)

That's my 5 hour labor story. Lesson learned? Don't listen to the advice nurse.

My mom didn't believe Richard when he called her at 7:30 to announce Elias' arrival. Richard promptly send pictures to facebook and no body could believe he was here already, especially since they all read my post the night before about finishing the dress.

Sabrina got to come and see her brother immediately and she also got to go trick or treating with her cousins.

I feel so lucky to have a Halloween baby. I made jokes the whole pregnancy about how cool it would be (my due date was 11/12).

50 books in one year, take 3

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna try again this year!

Goal 50
So far 4

January:
1 Gone-Away Lake - Elizabeth Enright
2 Return to Gone-Away Lake - Elizabeth Enright
3 The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - Trenton Lee Stewart
4 The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma - Trenton Lee Stewart

Currently Reading: nothing :c

Queue: Kiln People - David Brin, The Postman - David Brin

Gone-Away Lake and Return to Gone-Away Lake are old favorites I like to re-read every couple of years. There's actually a picture in Return to Gone-Away Lake that I want to have a tattoo of some day. These were fast reads, but very creative. I was in love with these books before I realized she wrote other (more popular) books, but these are still my faves of hers.

The Mysterious Benedict Society books are #2 & #3 in the series. This was my first time through them and I truely love them already. I'm just sad I have to return them to my mom. I'll probably end up buying the whole series.

Next up is either Kiln People or The Postman... I'm leaning towards The Postman since it's a shorter book. I already almost drowned with The Mysterious Benedict Society since those books are so long. I need to remember to read both long and short books this year. Too many long books will take too long (since I still need time to knit and clean and stuff). Too many short books will make me think I'm cheating.

How Portlandia! (or I've been told)

2011-02-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

So I found a recipe for homemade lotion while I was browsing my blog reader. I wasn't looking for one, but it jumped out to me on another knitting blog (go figure, right?).

I hate buying lotion, it seems so wasteful and expensive, especially since we have slather Sabrina with Cetaphil every night (it goes on coupon at Costco this month, fyi). I haven't been buying my own lotion for awhile. Last Christmas we got Bath & Bodyworks baskets from work and I had to return everything since their stuff gives me migranes. yuck! They do have 2 unscented lotions, but they're expensive and I'm almost out of the two bottles I got from my return (I returned a whole basket of stuff and was only able to get 2 bottles of unscented. Why is unscented so much more than their regular stuff?)

Okay, I'm off my rant about B&BW. Back to the lotion. The recipe is here at the ReadyMade Blog. I haven't poked around too much more than the lotion, but I hope the rest of the site is just as good.

This lotion was fast to make! And free for me! I didn't have any beeswax, so I asked a coworker who makes candles where I could get some. She pointed me to Ruhl Bee Supply in Gladstone, but I wasn't going to be able to get there soon, so she gave me a chunk from her stash. AWESOME coworker of the month award!

My lotion is semi-local because Ruhl sells only local beeswax. The second local ingredient is good ol' Portland tap water. The recipe calls for filtered water, but I would have had to open a new filter cartridge and find the Brita pitcher (for those of you who don't live in Portland, we have some of the best tap water in the country, serious! We don't need to filter our water!).

The only ingredient that's not local is the olive oil.... Yes, only 3 ingredients!

Friday night I really wanted to make the lotion, so I scoured Home Goods and Ross for a cheap, small grater for the beeswax. I didn't find what I was looking for at Home Goods (really? no small grater?). I did find one at Ross for $3, score! I also found a jump rope and a cute new dress for Sabrina, all under my $15 limit.

Back to the lotion (again. sorry). From what I had read about this lotion, some people weren't having any luck and I didn't have high hopes for my first try. After the blending step I still had some water and it just wasn't blending. I ended up draining some off before I jarred it.

For my jars, I found a lonely jelly canning jar and an old baby food jar (that was housing some pumpkin seeds for next year). You're suppose to wait for the lotion to cool down before putting the lids on, but my lotion was already pretty cool. I waited anyways... but we didn't wait to try it!

I love this stuff. Sometimes it smells more like beeswax and sometimes like olive oil. Other people have said it smells "natural." I've used some on Sabrina a couple of times and she hasn't had any reactions to it yet, so YAY!

I don't have any pictures :( I tried to take on with my camera phone, but it just looks funny.

Another year, another goal not met

2010-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

So far: 23
Goal: 48
January:
1 Waking Rose - Regina Doman
2 Midnight Dancers - Regina Doman
3 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
February
4 The Practice Effect - David Brin
March
5 Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
6 Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
April
7 The Saturdays - Elizabeth Enright
8 The Four-Story Mistake - Elizabeth Enright
9 Then There Were Five - Elizabeth Enright
10 Spider Web for Two - Elizabeth Enright
May
11 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
12 The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
June
13 Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
14 The Prince of Omeya - Anthony Fon Eisen
15 Anne of Green Gables
16 Anne of Avonlea
17 Anne of the Island
18 Anne of Windy Poplars
19 Anne’s House of Dreams
20 Anne of Ingleside
21 Rainbow Valley
22 Mocking Jay - Suzanne Collins
22 My Own Two Feet: A Memoir - Beverly Cleary
23 The Birchbark House - Louise Erdrich
Maybe I'll reach 50 next year. I don't think I can read 27 books in December (and I mean chapter books!)

Camping: Take 3

2010-12-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Our 3rd camping trip this year was our annual family campout at Cape Lookout State Park over Labor Day weekend.. I love that place! I think we started going when I was in middle school or early high school. We always have so much fun. I took Sabrina when she was 5 months old (that’s actually been the easiest camping trip I’ve had with her, go fig.). Last year was fun because she was walking and showing some independence.

However, this year she screamed in the middle of the night for no reason every night we were there. I still don’t know what was up. It’s not like it was her first time camping. We did end up having a good time, but it’s hard camping with Sabrina when Richard isn’t there. (he had to work)

The weather was nice, we swam in the ocean, took a small hike, rode bikes around, sat by the fire… just general camping stuff. It’s kind of like our last hurrah for the summer.

And, we took a little class on cooking in dutch ovens. That was pretty cool. The ranger guy that lead it was a sweet boy scout type. In the end we got to sample the food we made: pizza and peach pie. I'll be getting my self a dutch oven before next summer. Of course I took a picture of my piece of pizza:

I really love this picture. That's my Aunt Teri (Aunt T as all the kids call her).

That one looks like a good Christmas card picture? I hope J.P. & Erin use it!

Camping: take 2

2010-10-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

For our second camping trip, Sabrina and I went to our church camp-out at Metzler Park. Richard had to work, but my my mom, brother, SIL & the kids came. We pulled in and immedietly saw big signs saying "No fires." Apparently there was fear of wildfires.

We woke up the first morning freezing! (okay, not really freezing, but we were really cold). Then Mom crawled out of the tent to tell us she forgot breakfast. So we piled into the van and got bagels/cream cheese/coffee in Damascus... or was it Estacada? or ?? We were close to home again, but I hate to admit it... I don't really know the area southeast of us.

Then there was Sabrina's sleeping issue. She did.not.want.to.take.a.nap.... or go to bed in general. She was a little stinker about it, but she needed it and eventually fell asleep.

The church group had some potlucks and a softball game. I really enjoyed this campground. It had showers, a nice playground, softball field, basketball court & a swimming hole!

Camping!

2010-10-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

This summer was filled with CAMPING! I love camping. We use to go all the time when I was a kid. We would just pick-up and go on the weekends. As an adult, I'm lucky to go once a year. Richard can only get weekends off if he asks for them well in advance. This year was different, I got to go 3 times!

When asked what I wanted to do for my birthday (Aug 2nd), I said camping. Since it was too late to get a spot in a state campground, I polled my facebook friends and came up with Indian Henry's in the Mt. Hood National Forest. No shower, but flushing toilets! And it was right on the Clackamas river... plus, less than an hour away from our house.

The ride in was beautiful:

We had a secluded site:

It wasn't very noisy, even when the campground started filling up on Saturday.

Sabrina had a lot of fun:

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

2010-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

June, 30th 2007

Richard surprised me with a new ipod! And it's green! He even loaded our "song" on it (and by "song" I mean the one we finally agreed on for our first dance, it took months!) My mom came and babysat so we could do dinner and a movie (California Pizza Kitchen & Toy Story 3). Thanks Mom.

We still haven't scanned in any of the professional pictures, even though we have permission. I just browsed through my flickr set and none of the ones taken with my camera are very good.

My two grandmas

My mom and my dad. In the same picture... pretty weird, but I'm glad it was taken.

My cousin Chuck (a groomsman) and my niece, Alive (flower girl)

I need to have a scanning party or something. I wish the photographer had just given us the digital pictures. I think that's the wave of the future. Oh well. He did a good job.

Maui & the Big Island

2010-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have way too many pictures from Hawaii. I'll probably end up making a set public on Flickr. Richard had been feeling homesick for awhile and airfare was cheap. So we went. It was kinda weird. We bought our tickets 2 weeks before we left, so for me, that was a last minute vacation. It just happened that it was Mother's day and my MIL's birthday while we were there. We spent a week on Maui, a weekend on the Big Island, and then another 5 days on Maui.

Sabrina LOVED it! She loved the beach, she loved the water, she loved the avocados... And she loved her Nana!

Old FO

2010-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in October that I knit a toddler sweater in one week, but I never blogged about it again. Well, here it is after a winter of use:

Pattern: Child's Placket-Neck Pullover by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted - Mill End so it doesn't have a colorway
Needles: US 8

Notes: I love this pattern and this yarn works so well with it! I used less than one ball of yarn, probably have enough for a hat. I realize that the pattern and the colors look a little boyish, but Sabrina doesn't mind.

(cheese face)

50 books in 1 year, July 2010 edition

2010-07-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

March
5 Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
6 Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

April
7 The Saturdays - Elizabeth Enright
8 The Four-Story Mistake - Elizabeth Enright
9 Then There Were Five - Elizabeth Enright
10 Spider Web for Two - Elizabeth Enright

May
11 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
12 The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

June
13 Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
14 The Prince of Omeya - Anthony Fon Eisen

I guess I've read 9 books since my last update. Most of them are in the youth section, but I'm fine with that. Jane Eyre was a bit of a slog. I did like it, but I guess I don't understand why it's some people's favorite book. It was a bit depressing for me. I also knew how it would end since I read The Eyre Affair last year.

I love The Prince of Omeya. I read it a long time ago, probably middle school (I know this because soon after I read it, my dog Socks chewed it up and Socks passed away before high school). I thought the book was a bit hard to read when I was younger, but I flew through it this time.

I'm looking forward to The Postman because I really loved the other David Brin book I read this year (The Practice Effect). And no, I haven't seen the Kevin Costner movie.

The books I'm currently working on are: Congo, Anne of Green Gables (for like, the 10th time, whatever, don't judge) and I'm still halfway through Heaven's Net is Wide (prequel to the Otori books I read last year)

And that's about all. When I returned Jane Eyre and The Prince of Omeya to my mom, she handed me another stack of books. Thanks mom. Next time I'm going to borrow Darwinia because I can't remember much about it, but I have this weird picture in my mind about the book, so I guess it's time to re-read it.

Where was I again?

2010-07-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

So I just went to my blog for the first time in months... Yeah, months! My last post was in March. Some things have happened since then. We went to Maui for 2 weeks in May. I've read some more books. I don't think I've finished a single knit item. Sabrina turned 2! I ordered more yarn. Sabrina had a scary asthma attach. My SIL Erin and I started a weekend yard work exchange program. We've had work parties at my house twice and we cleared a bunch of weeds, shoveled a bunch of rocks and built a 6'x4' garden box (for square food gardening). It's finally summer in Portland... well, maybe. It's a bit cool again today, but we've had some 90 degree weather. Richard and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary.

That's where we are now. I'm hoping to put up some posts regarding all that stuff I just listed out.

50 books in 1 year, March 2010 edition

2010-03-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have set myself up for failure in my quest to read 50 books in a year:

So far: 5

January:
1 Waking Rose - Regina Doman
2 Midnight Dancers - Regina Doman
3 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

February
4 The Practice Effect - David Brin

March
5 Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

I am currently ready Heaven's Net is Wide (a prequel to the Otori books I read last year) and Through the Looking Glass, which I meant to finish before seeing Alice in Wonderland, but I ended up going on opening night. It was a great movie. I love Johnny Depp.

I've borrowed a few books from my mom, but I don't seem to find the time to read with all this knitting, going from the Olympics to March Madness (I have 8 squares done, I'm behind by one, hopefully I can catch up on the weekends)

Olympic Round-up: Project 5

2010-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

(still need a better picture)

Pattern: Toasty
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu
Needles: US 6

Notes: I tried out my new 9" cirs on these. I'm not sure that it was any faster than using dpns, but I'll keep trying. I didn't know how much yarn I would need and I didn't have much left after a scarf and 2 other pairs of toastys, but I made it with plenty of yarn to spare. I didn't make these as long as the pattern. Using the smaller needle made these a little too tight for me, but they should fit my aunt much better. I already gave her the matching scarf (which I still need a picture of).

Olympic Round-up: Project 4

2010-03-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

(I'll have to get a better picture of it later)

Pattern: Winter Night Afghan - Lion Brand
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Needles: US 11

Notes: I started this blanket when I found out my cousin was pregnant. The "baby" has turned 5. I never finished it because I use to hate sewing things together. This took me one evening to finish. I was still a novice knitter when I did this, not all the squares are square and my bindoffs are really tight. I don't think I'd do this pattern again, but I'm sure I could do a better job now that I have more experience.

Olympic Round-up: Project 3

2010-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Branching Out
Yarn: Jojoland Melody Superwash
Needles: US 6

Notes: I started this in December shortly after I finished a Cream of Spinach scarf in the same yarn. I had bought 2 balls and thought I would use them both on the CoS scarf. It turned out that I thought the scarf was a lovely length after the first ball, so I did some research and found that I could in fact knit a Branching Out with one ball of the Melody. I got just a few repeats in when I realized I needed to be doing Christmas knitting. I even forgot I had this laying around until Richard asked if he could use one of my knitting bags to carry our netbook in on our trip to the beach. There it was, the perfect Olympic project.

Olympic Round-up: Project 2

2010-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pattern: generic feather and fan shawl
Yarn: Interlacments Rick Rack II
Needles: US 9

Notes: I started this shawl in 2008 and I had actually lost it a few times. I didn't think I could find it in time to finish it for the Olympics, but I did. It was in the bench storage unit (weird spot for it, but I vaguely remember Richard shoving things in there the day before Sabrina's 1st birthday party, almost a year ago). I thought I wasn't very far on it, but I'm guessing I was about halfway done. I didn't make it as long as I had planned because I'm told it will stretch. It's very pretty and soft, but I think I should have made it longer. Oh well, maybe it will stretch. I might give it as a gift, I don't think it's really my style.

Olympic Round-up: Project 1

2010-03-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm starting the round-up with my 2nd finished project because I sent my first one out the door without a picture (I know, lame).

I started this feather and fan scarf maybe 2 years ago. I decided to enter it into the WIP dancing event because it needed to get off my needles. I had about 4/5ths of it done, so it only took me a day to finish it.

I still haven't blocked it, but it's in the rules that blocking and end weaving (I did that) are up the the individual athlete... plus, I think it looks fine without blocking.

Specs:
Pattern: generic feather & fan
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight, mill end, possible Sherbet
Needles: US 7

March Madness?

2010-03-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

Wait, the Olympics are over? I can stop knitting like a mad knitter? I think someone forgot to tell my fingers.

I think I'm committing to what I'm calling "March Madness." I think other people are doing something with March, too, I'm just too lazy to look it up right now. On the 1st, I started in earnest my Barn Raising Quilt that I cast on for at Blue Moon Fiber Arts for their Once in a Blue Moon KAL thing. It is now the 4th and I'm on my 4th square. My goal for the month is 31 squares. That's very ambitious for me. I'm pushing my limits already with 1 a day, I don't know if I can keep the pace, but I'm going to try.

I don't know if I really have enough yarn for 31 squares and since I'm only knitting it out of Socks that Rock mediumweight mill ends, I may have to wait till Oregon Flock and Fiber in September to get more. I wonder if Tina would sell me some before then if I begged and pleaded.

Coming soon: Olympic roundup. (2 projects start to finish, 4 wip dancing projects)

(Oxbow park, Gresham, OR)

Ravelympics 2010

2010-01-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

I've decided to participate in the Ravelympics this time. I did the Knitting Olympics in 2006 and didn't finish. This time I was planning on a lace shawl, but I've decided I probably won't have the time to do it.

I've joined two groups: Team BAU and Team Blue Moon.

For Team BAU I will be participating in the WIPs-Dancing. I have a feather and fan shawl that has been hibernating for over a year and a blanket that I started over 5 years ago! (really, I just rediscovered it the other night)

For Team Blue Moon I will be knitting a Cream of Spinach Scarf in Woobu. If I finish and have time, I will be knitting matching arm warmers. These are Christmas presents for my aunt and I'm itching to start them since she already knows about them (we've discussed pattern/colors/armwarmers).

In Sabrina news: She's growing up! The evidence:

@21 months
(for some reason blogger is not letting me format like I want to)

2010-01-13T12:41:00.001-08:00

Last year I didn’t set any goals, so I felt like I was all over the place. I did much better in 2008 with some goals (even if I didn’t meet them). So, here we go:

Knitting:

* Knit from stash in order to fit all my yarn in the spot it’s suppose to go in (HAHA!)
* muir
* February lady - Woobu, Blue Moon
* Shalom Cardigan - thinking about Lion Brand Homespun (unusual choice, I know)
* Make some kind of circular needle holder
* Shrug for Grandma Thanua - superwash wool (cascade?)
* Scarf for Aunt Sharon - Cream of spinach, Woobu (Tanzanite)
* Valentine's Day sweater for Sabrina - Malabrigo? red?
* barn raising quilt - This is for my Once in a Blue Moon cast on. I plan to have it done by the next “blue moon” (not the farmers almanac blue moon, but the two in one month kind), which will be August 31, 2012. I’ve got plenty of time!

Home:

* Organize hall closet DONE (already, I know, gotta start somewhere)
* Organize garage
* Decorate Sabrina’s room - painting done, need some shelves and wall art (fish?)
* Paint some more rooms in the house
* Better garden - square foot gardening

Personal:

* Baby?
* be more healthy - joined a biggest loser competition (although I'm not competing for the $$$)
* Maybe some alone time/personal days - first one this Saturday for the yarn crawl? Don't know, don't have a babysitter yet

Beanie's first picture of the year:

(asleep in the car after a long night of partying! Holding Mickey Mouse toast)

Pile of Toasties

2010-01-04T23:52:00.001-08:00

I found an easy pattern and I'm now working on my 7th pair. Crazy.

Pattern: Toasty (rav link)

Yarn: Plymouth Galway Worsted (teal,purple, pink, lilac) & Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu in Tanzanite (second from right). The two that were given as gifts were a second Tanzanite and a blue caron simply soft. I think I like the Galway the best for this project (although something like Malabrigo would be better, but I didn't have that in my stash)

Needles: US size 7 dnps

Mods: Not much, I don't make them quite as long as the pattern. The first pair I thought I should do something to control the rolling and did 2 rows k1p1 rib after a few inches, but it just looked funny. I don't think these roll too much more than they're suppose to.

I think I'm going to continue to knit this pattern for awhile. It's really really easy and I can knit it anywhere. It's great stash busting! I am almost out of worsted weight wool though. I've been thinking about switching over to some of my acrylic, but we'll have to see. The simply soft pair turned out nice and I have a bit of that left in a few colors.

Final book total: 37

2010-01-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

Not too bad. I bet I can do better this year.

January:

1 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
2 Twilight (Book 1, Twilight Series) - Stephenie Meyer
3 New Moon (Book 2, Twilight Series) - Stephenie Meyer
4 Across the Nightingale Floor (Book 1, Tales of the Otori) - Lian Hearn

February:

5 Grass for His Pillow (Book 2, Tales of the Otori) - Lian Hearn
6 Brilliance of the Moon (Book 3, Tales of the Otori) - Lian Hearn
7 Eclipse (Book 3, Twilight Series) - Stephenie Meyer
8 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (RR) - J. K. Rowling

March:

9 Breaking Dawn (Book 4, Twilight Series) - Stephenie Meyer
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (RR) - J. K. Rowling
11 The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
12 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams
13 Life, the Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams

April

14 So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish - Douglas Adams
15 Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams
16 The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Book 4, Tales of the Otori) - Lian Hearn

May

17 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
18 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling

June

19 Little House in the big woods (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
20 Little House on the Prairie (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder

July

21 The Long Winter (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
22 These Happy Golden Years (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
23 The Joys of Love (RR) - Madeleine L’Engle
24 Uglies - scott westerfeld
25 Pretties - scott westerfeld
26 Fahrenheit 451 (RR) - Ray Bradbury
27 Specials - scott westerfeld

August

28 Extras - scott westerfeld
29 The Shadow of the Bear - Regina Doman
30 Black as Night - Regina Doman

November

31 The October Country (RR) - Ray Bradbury
32 The Halloween Tree - Ray Bradbury
33 By the Shores of Silver Lake (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder

December

34 Little Town on the Prairie (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
35 The First Four Years (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
36 The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
37 The Illustrated Man (RR) - Ray Bradbury

Total: 37 Goal: 50

Christmas Stocking Ornament

2009-12-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is a very rough draft of this pattern. I've been asked about it, so I thought I would just post what I have. I've only knit it once and gave it away, so this is all from memory:

I basically just used a simple sock pattern, this sock pattern is a good example, the toe-up version. I used size 3 needles and DK weight. I think I cast on 8 stitches with Judy’s Magic Cast on, increased a few times (but not as much as the pattern). knit for an inch, do the short-row heel (there's one in the pattern I linked to, adjust the numbers, though, since you’ll probably be using a different number of stitches).

After the heel, knit for a few inches (however tall you want the stocking). Change to the cuff color (I used a worsted weight from my stash) and k1p1 ribbing for 1.5 inches. I did an i-cord loop. When I changed from the red to white, I didn’t cut the red, so I just picked up 3 stitches with the red from there. make your loop as long as you want it. a couple of inches is probably good. I stuffed it lightly and sewed the top closed (like in the hat pattern, right above the color change, so there’s no red showing).

Santa hat ornament

2009-12-16T12:58:00.001-08:00

I came up with this design for an ornament exchange party.

Santa Hat

Yarn:
Knit Picks DK Swish red (1)
White yarn from stash. DK, sport or worsted would probably work

Needles:
US size 3, dpns or circs. I used dpns

Notions:
Tapestry needle
Pom-pom maker (optional)
Stitch markers (optional)

Pattern:

With white, cast on 40 stitches (10 on each dpn if using 4)
K1 P1 for 1.5 inches

Change to red, st st for 1 inch

Start decreases:
Row 1: (ssk, k16, k2tog) twice
Row 2 and all even rows: knit
Row 3: (ssk, k14, k2tog) twice

Repeat row 3, kniting 2 less stitches between the decrease sections until there are 4 stitches left. Cut yarn, leaving at least 12 inches, pull through last 4 stitches.

Make small pom-pom. I used a a small pom-pom maker, but any way will work.

To make the loop, I've used two different ways. The first way is a two stranded braid. You will need to pull an additional piece of yarn through the top of the hat. The second way is to do a regular 3 stranded braid. I found this easier.

Cut a piece of yarn at least 24 inches long. Thread both ends through the top of the hat:

Braid until you're almost at the end. Thread the braid through a tapestry needle (I do the short ends that are still unbraided and push the needle till it meets the braid). Pull the braid through the middle of the pom-pom, pulling the pom-pom down as far as it will go. It should be sitting on top of the hat. put the tapestry needle back through the pom-pom and through the top of the hat, but don't pull tight. Leave the loop bigger than you want. Secure the braid to the inside of the hat. Knot the loop as close to the pom-pom as possible (gives it more of a finished look, but you don't have to do that).

Stuff lightly. You don't have to weave in the ends that will be inside the hat. With the brim folded up, sew the hat closed:

I tacked the brim into place in a few places so it wouldn't come unfolded.

So, I wrote a pattern...

2009-12-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

But it's not ready yet. I took pictures of the finished items, and some during the process. But my computer froze every time I tried to upload the pictures. Go figure.

There's actually 2, but I've only finished the pattern for one.

Want the background story? Richard's department at work always has an ornament exchange party and I've always wanted to knit the ornament, but I've never done it. This year, he asked me to do it. I started out with Eunny Jang's cabled globe ornament (rav link), but I didn't have the right yarn, so I went down to size 3s and it turned out okay. I tried a second one, but with even thinner yarn (don't know what I was thinking) and size 2s. That one took way too long!

My next idea was to knit a mini sock in red and white. I knit a tall, red baby sock with white cuff and lightly stuffed it, added an i-cord loop, sewed the top closed. It turned out really cool! It was a bit bigger than I originally thought it would be.

Then it hit me, knit a matching Santa hat! I cast on like I was knitting a regular hat, knit the brim in white, switched to red, decreased, added a braid for a loop, added a small pom-pom, secured the loop. And I had a hat!. I really didn't want to give them away! They were a hit at the party!

I gave the two cabled balls as a hostess gift (Richard's idea, they were both blue). And I crocheted a Christmas pickle for the host, too. All in all, a successful party.

Because I thought the hat was too cute, I cast on for another one yesterday making sure to take notes. I think the second one turned out just as good as the first one. On the first one I did a 2 stranded braid (basically just plying by hand) and the second one I did a regular 3 stranded braid. It just seemed easier and less fiddly.

Now I need to write the pattern for the stocking. Not like I don't have enough to do! I reserved Saturday for baking cookies, but it turns out my cousin is on leave from Afghanistan and they're have a lunch party for him on Saturday.

I'm starting to feel a little bah-humbuggie. I have my work's fancy shmancy party Friday night and lunch with friends Sunday. Then there's the party on the 23rd. I have to work on the 23rd and the 24th, so that's very not convenient for me!

Bah Humbug!

Little House on the Prairie Swap

2009-12-07T12:47:00.001-08:00

I've been participatign in a Little House on the Prairie swap. It's from a readalong group on ravelry.com. I wish I had taken pictures of the things I sent, that would have been good blog material. Anyways, I got my package from Bethany on Saturday. It was funny because I had just put Sabrina down for a nap and I was peeking through the peephole to see if the mailman was there... and he was! I'm glad he didn't ring the doorbell, but he did knock rather loud. The swap had a $15
limit and we had to thrift the items and hand make them. Almost everything I sent was something I had already had on hand or previously made. I did buy some Moonstruck Chocolates and Marionberry jam.

Here's some of the loot:

I used a less than good camera since mine was upstairs and I didn't want to wake Sabrina when I went up the stairs. I really love the sheep notions bag and the needle book is much nicer than the one I made (I did try to freehand it when I should have just followed the instructions).

Thank you Bethany, everything is wonderful! I've already put all my Christmas card origami box making supplies in the sewing box (to the relief of Richard, he was really tired of all the squares being out where Sabrina could get into them).

20 months old already?

2009-12-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

Dancing

Words:
ball
bell (doorbell and Tinkerbell)
sock (sounds like a naughty word)
shoe (zooshoo)
eye
nose
kitty and meow
doggy and woo woo
fishy
bonzai (because that's what the penguins say when they jump into the bath)
uh-oh
NaNa (Richard's mom, who choose NaNa)
Nanny (My mom, who goes by Granny)
bunny (sounds like kitty)

November's books

2009-12-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

November

31 The October Country (RR) - Ray Bradbury
32 The Halloween Tree - Ray Bradbury
33 By the Shores of Silver Lake (RR) - Laura Ingalls Wilder

After my last post, I decided that while I can't reach 50 books, I can at least see how close I can get. I would like to set my new goal at 40, but that's 7 books in December. I'm thinking 38 is more realistic. I'll start over in January and see if I can do 50 next year.

In other news, I have sent a swap package off and I'm nervous. This is only my second swap and it's a lot harder than the first. I hope I did okay.

I have also lost my memory card that has all the Thanksgiving pictures. Doh! I switched it out on Saturday since I was running low on space. I have all the pictures from the Seattle trip, but nothing from Thursday.

50 books in a year, revisited

2009-11-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

The last time I posted about my effort to read 50 books this year, I was on number 27. It was July. I am now almost done with book #31.... I don't think the math is adding up to 50 by the end of the year.

Here's August's book list:

28 Extras
29 The Shadow of the Bear
30 Black as Night

I started reading The October Country in August. As of today, I am still reading it. In October I said, I'll have a mini Ray Bradbury read-athon. Didn't happen. Maybe it's because it's a book of short stories. I just can't get into it.

My question is: Can I really read 19 books in a month and a few days? I don't think it will happen, but I'll try to up my numbers just a little. I have 2 young adult novels that shouldn't take too long and a coworker is giving me another one that should be a quick read. Maybe it's time to reread The Giver and some of the others I got in middle school.

Kitty mittens

2009-11-20T12:22:00.001-08:00

DSC00178, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Going into Halloween week, I still hadn't figured out what to do for Sabrina's kitty paws. I'd been thinking about some black mittens with pink paw prints on the palms. So I did it. Without a pattern. I'm actually thinking about writing one up. They came out so cute! I still need to get a good picture of Sabrina in her cat costume because it was already dark when we got all the kids dressed and ready for trick or treating.

I've been having a lot of those "I can't believe I made that" moments recently. I feel like I'm tooting my own horn, but I think there's a bit of a difference between when somebody else says a FO is good and actually seeing for myself that it's good. It feels good.

I've got a couple cute sweaters I've finished recently, but again, no pictures.

I think I've figured out what to do for the older nieces and nephew, mitts! I've found a few patterns that I like. The oldest nephew (12 or 13, I forget) will get some very basic black mitts (or hobo gloves as Key calls them) out of worsted weight. Key and Tess will get some either knit or crocheted out of sock yarn. I'm so excited, but I also feel like I'm falling further and further behind. I'm working on that scarf and it's taking quite awhile (size 6 needles, really?)

2 projects, 1 needle

2009-11-19T14:10:00.001-08:00

2 projects, 1 needle, originally uploaded by a-chan.

So I'm knitting a Cream of Spinach scarf out of Jojoland Superwash Melody and I'm less than half done, using size 6 needles. I'm also knitting another Confection Baby Shrug out of summer tweed, using size 8 needles.

Now's the fun part. I always go down 1 or 2 needle sizes for ribbing or garter st. With the summer tweed I knew I needed to go down to the 6s. However, this may be lame, but I swear that those 6s are the only ones I have. I had to decide if I should finish the scarf before I finish the shrug or if I should put the scarf on a stitch holder. If I used the holder, I might never come back to the scarf. I didn't want to finish the scarf first.

So I just left it on the needle and used it anyways. Pretty clever, no? Now I'm back to the same decision, though. I finished both arms, so now the only thing left is the main border. And it's knit in the round. I won't be able to do my neat trick. For now, I'm knitting the scarf. But I really want to finish the shrug since it's a nice fall color. Maybe this weekend I'll put the scarf on the stitch holder as long as I promise myself that I will go right back to working on it when I'm done with the ribbing (it's only 3 rows and the bind-off, shouldn't take too long).

I just really liked the picture.

Knitter's ADD

2009-10-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm been knitting. Kinda like a maniac. I knit 6 hats for Christmas presents in a week. Then I stalled out. I started a toddler sweater on a Sunday and finished it the next Sunday. I've knit 1.5 Halloween dishcloths this week. The first one still needs to be bound off, the second one I stole the needles to use for a pumpkin hat that was suppose to be for this weekends trip to the pumpkin patch (that has been called off due to being sick). I bought needles to start my Barn Raising Quilt (no timeline, just whenever I feel like making a square) and needles to knit a pair of socks (yeah, I only had size 2 dpns and I needed 0, good thing Twisted was having a sale)

And I have no pictures to verify any of this.

Oh, I know. I didn't share this:

I started knitting this for Sabrina a few weeks before she was due. I would have had it finished if she had been on time. Oh well. It sat buried in my stash for quite awhile. I found it while I was looking for something else and realized I could finish it for my cousin who is expecting. I think it is my best February Baby Sweater so far. I love how the Socks that Rock turned out after washing and blocking. (Ravelry link)

I think I may try to make one for Sabrina is a worsted weight yarn.

And here's a picture of Sabrina with her Great-Great-Aunt Lou:

This is one of those pictures that I'll cherish forever. When I saw Sabrina sitting there, I yelled "where's the camera?" and at least 3 cameras showed up (including mine). Sabrina really made Aunt Lou's day.

Cat on the Hat

2009-09-16T12:40:00.001-07:00

Halloween is quickly approaching... kinda. Last year we bought Sabrina's costume (a penguin, I actually bought it in the clearance section when I was just 5 months pregnant, because I already knew what she would be for her first Halloween)

Last year my nieces and nephew went as characters from Peter Pan (Wendy, Peter and Princess Tiger Lily). My SIL (Erin) was a little worried about sending her 4 year old out in and old indian costume, but it worked out and nobody thought it was weird.

(I don't have a very good picture of them, but these were all homemade and or reused. This year, a better picture shoot, not as we're heading out the door for trick or treating)

The year before that, Erin and I (with help from her mom and Valeska) made the Alice in Wonderland dress:

This year, the votes have been cast. We thought it would be cute for Sabrina and Buddy to be a Leia and Luke combo. Then we changed it to Leia and Han Solo since Luke is a little wussy. But then Buddy wanted to be a goblin since his sister was going to be a witch. Sabrina's favorite animal sound is "meow" so it's purfect for her to be a black cat*. Now they all kind of match. This theme thing can be a little hard, though. Like, what does a goblin look like? I found a home made Green Goblin costume and sent the link to Erin and she's going to use that as a starting point.

But on to the cat costume! Cats are easy. I originally wanted to sew the costume, kind of a suit like footie pajamas. However, Erin pointed out I could just use black sweats. At Target Monday night I decided to look for toddler sweats (not so much luck), but I did find some black leggings ($4 boot-cut, but they'll work) and a black turtleneck onesie ($3.77**) Sweet! Her costume is already almost done. I'm knitting a cat hat using the Lil' Devil Baby Hat pattern and I'm going to wing it for the ears (found black yarn in the stash). Shouldn't be too hard. I'm to the decreases, so I should probably finish it tonight. Then I just have to figure out the paws. I think I have some black felt. I know I don't have black fabric, so I may need to buy some.

Coming from a procrastinator who usually has to spend Christmas Eve knitting furiously into the night... I think I'm doing good!

I just need to start my Christmas knitting soon (hats and mitts for all the kids, so at least 8 sets!)

*I realize Sabrina shouldn't be trick or treating in all black, but we're planning on using glow sticks and Richard wants to get her one of those flashy lights. And we might go before it gets dark, since Halloween is on a Saturday.

**Both black items were from the same brand and neither one was on sale, but why the $0.23 difference? Weird, yo!

Felted in the wash

2009-09-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

DSC00150, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I'm having a hard time getting Richard to stop throwing hand knits in the wash. It's not completely his fault, I use to knit with more washable yarn. And the green one up there is suppose to be superwash. It shrank more than the Twisted (Blue Moon). Actually, they're both Blue Moon. The green one is Worsted Wear. Not so much superwash. The green one that isn't felted is a baby shower gift for my cousin, so I'll have to warn her not to machine wash it.

The good news: The green felted one kind of fits Sabrina's baby doll. I may try to felt it a little bit more.

The sad part, Sabrina didn't really get a chance to wear the green one, let alone have a picture of it. I put the shower one on her, but it's way too small (6 month size).

Photo shoot

2009-08-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

I had Sabrina wear the dress to church on Sunday. The lady behind us complimented it several times. It really is pretty cute. After church, lunch and a nap, I decided to try a small photo shoot in the front yard (don't mind the ice cube tray, lol). Sabrina was not a happy camper at first, which is surprising because she loves hanging out in the front yard.

Eventually she cooperated:

And my fave one:

Sabrina loves yogurt

2009-08-28T16:55:00.001-07:00

Toddler socks

2009-08-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

DSC_0036, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Towards the beginning of Sock Summit, I started thinking that I should have a sock to knit. I started with some old Lion Brand Magic Stripes, but I never really liked the color combination so I stopped at the heal and grabbed some of this crazy striped Regia yarn. I bought this when I first thought I would start knitting socks. It's been in my stash for over 4 years.

So, I cast on using Judy's Magic Caston, of course. I kind of fudged the rest of the sock, making up my own short row heal. I hope I can duplicate it on the second sock. My gauge isn't really good, too loose, but I don't think Sabrina will mind. She doesn't leave socks on anyways.

I haven't touched this project since Sock Summit ended. Maybe when I'm done with the Clapotis. I'm on repeat 13 of the straight section! I'm going to do at least one more before I start the decrease section. It's so exciting, I'm ahead of schedule!

Something from the archives

2009-08-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

DSC00136, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I knit this dress for my niece when she was about 2 (I think). The pattern is out of Family Circle Easy Knitting, Holiday 2005 (I know this, thanks to Ravelry). I've been trying to get a picture of it, but since my niece is 5, it's been in hiding. I guess it was still hanging in her closet, but in the very back, in no-mans-land. It showed up on my desk at work this morning (I work with my SIL).

She has given it to Sabrina because "it will look cute on her" but I hear she was sad about it. I'll be giving it right back to her the second Sabrina doesn't fit it anymore, since it was a present.

I'm also thinking about knitting this again in a different yarn. I can see all my mistakes and I want to fix them, I think this dress has potential (even if I am the only one who has ever knit it, per ravelry). I knit it when I was still knitting combination style since I didn't know any better so all the stitches are twisted. Maybe I'll do it in cotton next time.

Kumihimo or that circle thingy

2009-08-24T16:12:00.001-07:00

DSC00133, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Years ago, maybe 4 or 5, I was really into anime and I frequented "pink stores" just to see if they had any cool new Japanese things. I picked this do-dad up on a whim and followed the instructions and ended up with a really cool bracelet. Then it got stored away in my craft stash.

Last night I was looking for something, I don't remember what, when I found it, complete with the instructions and the last of the yarn it came with. Curious, I picked it up and after consulting the instructions, I was on my way again.

Then I decided to do some research, to see if I could find any other patterns. While the spirally design mine came with is fun, I wanted to make a variety! I guess there's books, but the free online patterns are few and far.

I did manage to find a few, but I also saw a bunch of homemade disks. That got me thinking! I have a bunch of foam that I can cut them out of and make some for my nieces! I bet they’d love them. The youngest one (going into kindergarten this year, yikes!) is always asking me to teach her to knit (but never at convenient times). Perfect! I’ll bring them camping with some yarn and see what happens.

Clapotis and Stitch markers

2009-08-20T12:26:00.001-07:00

DSC00129, originally uploaded by a-chan.

The stitch markers help, I swear they do. Even the little hair elastics I found were annoying. Thanks to trtlgrl for the link! I've only made about half that I need. I really need to get better pliers, though. The ones I have are clunkers, found in the tool box. I really didn't want to buy the beading pliers, but I may after next payday.

I'm really enjoying knitting this clapotis this time around. I don't know if it's just the yarn or the stitch markers.

Last night, I had a little bit of a mess I had to fix. I forgot to do one increase. I tried to just fudge it, but I ended up with a hole. I tried to put it back the way it was and there was a bigger hole. There are no pictures, but I ended up putting in an afterthought lifeline and frogging 4 whole rows. This wouldn't have happened if I'd just gone to knitting knit at Hagans.... or maybe it would have, who knows.

I think I can finish this by Sept. 1st if I do one straight section a day and all the decrease sections in one day (right... um, don't think it will really happen, but it's my goal!)

stitch markers

2009-08-14T17:04:00.001-07:00

Paper clip stitch markers., originally uploaded by a-chan.

So, I don't really like stitch markers. Most of the time when a pattern calls for one, I just don't use them. If I absolutely need to use one, I use a loop of yarn or paper clips or a small hair elastic.*

I'm referring to this one as my first since my first try was frogged. (I so wasn't feeling it!) But here I am with the same delima I had last time. Stitch markers. The yarn loops I started with started to fray something awful and I didn't wan the white fibers knit into this gorgeous yarn. I switched to paperclips. Paperclips may work in a pinch, but it's just uncomfortable.

I guess I need to make some real ones or something. Any tips? I have some random bead and some wire and access to a soldering iron (but Richard won't trust me with it).

Help! I'm afraid I'll stop working on this project because of this.

*hair elastic... what do you call them? I've always called them hair ties... but I guess hair elastic better describes them.

Pathetic Sock Summit post

2009-08-11T21:52:00.001-07:00

DSC_0036, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Sock Summit was great. I do wish I had planned out the baby-sitters better so I wasn't rushing all over the place dropping Sabrina off and rushing to the convention center. Or maybe I should have made Richard take the weekend off (it was suppose to be my birthday present).

I picked up my badge on Wednesday and hung out a little since I had some time to myself. It was kind of boring, not too many people.

Thursday I had to work.

I took Friday off so I could help break the world record. I took Sabrina with me in the morning, it was her first ride on MAX. She was in a very independent mood, not wanting to ride in the ergo. After one walk around the vendors room (stopping to buy my class pack), she was restless. I ended up letting her walk all over the empty halls and outside. And then she threw a tantrum; I wouldn't give her my cell phone. So I called Richard and said he needed to come and pick her up early (he was going to come and take over for the world record attempt anyways). And of course she took a good 3 hour nap for him. Oh well. At least I got a good lunch!

(How can some one so sweet throw such a big tantrum... ask the people walking by us before I gave in a nursed her)
Saturday was my class, Spindle Spinning Basics. It was good, but I kind of wish I had just taken some of the PDXknitbloggers up on their offers of getting people started. I learned a lot, but I'm still not quite understanding. I guess I'll have to bring it to OFFF and ask for help.

I also spent money on Saturday. I didn't buy any indie dyed yarns and I feel guilty. However, I was on a strict budget. I just bought some bulk stuff (will post it later). However, I have bookmarked a bunch of etsy shops with colorways I like. I'm going to wait a little while before I buy (they all seem wiped out from SS). Plus, I'll be able to buy some at OFFF.

The ravelry party was pretty cool Saturday night. I guess it's a case of "it is what you make it" because my group is too shy to go and meet people. It was cool recognizing people even if we didn't go introduce ourselves. I saw a mini-sock that I had previously seen partially finished in the forums (I'll have to look her up, I have her first and last name, so hopefully it comes up on ravelry):

Yes, that's a spider on the back... and I believe she used size 0000 needles.

Sunday was the Luminary Panel. I loved it. I did get bored during some of it, but for the most part I loved it. I wish I'd taken classes from some of those famous knitters.

Then I headed home since my mom was making dinner at my house for my brother's family. One of my favorite meals growing up: pork chops w/lawry's seasoning and stove top stuffing with broccoli. Sabrina slept for 3.5 hours for my mom, holy cow! And she loved the stove top stuffing!

Now I'm really tired. I had to work early today and I stayed up too late last night (typical).

July's finished books

2009-07-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

July

21 The Long Winter (RR)
22 These Happy Golden Years (RR)
23 The Joys of Love (RR)
24 Uglies
25 Pretties
26 Fahrenheit 451 (RR)
27 Specials

Total: 27 Goal: 50

Okay, I think I'm done with July. I finished two books in 3 days and had a massive reading hangover. I just can't stay up late to read anymore, even to just 1:00am. I just started Interview with the Vampire, but I'm not reading it tonight (it's downstairs in my backpack, that's how serious I am about not reading tonight).

Then there's this whole knitting thing, you know, what I normally do. I normally knit on the bus/max. I don't think I knit at all this week. I wanted to finish this February Baby sweater that's been in progress for over a year. I thought I'd finish it so I could use the needles for something else. I powered through most of it, but I'm on the last sleeve and I lost my motivation for it. It might also be the weather, too hot! We finally got a window a/c hooked up in the bedroom, yay!

And have I mentioned how excited I am for Sock Summit?? I'm not sure that I have. Next weekend can't come fast enough. Right now I'm excited about the lunch buffet. And the Ravelry meet-up... and and, my class.. and.all.that.yarn!

Trying to read 50 books this year....

2009-07-28T12:59:00.001-07:00

Here's what I got so far:

January:

1 The Time Traveler’s Wife
2 Twilight (Book 1, Twilight Series)
3 New Moon (Book 2, Twilight Series)
4 Across the Nightingale Floor (Book 1, Tales of the Otori)

February:

5 Grass for His Pillow (Book 2, Tales of the Otori)
6 Brilliance of the Moon (Book 3, Tales of the Otori)
7 Eclipse (Book 3, Twilight Series)
8 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (RR)

March:

9 Breaking Dawn (Book 4, Twilight Series)
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (RR)
11 The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
12 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
13 Life, the Universe and Everything

April

14 So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
15 Mostly Harmless
16 The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Book 4, Tales of the Otori)

May

17 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (RR)
18 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (RR)

June

19 Little House in the big woods (RR)
20 Little House on the Prairie (RR)

July

21 The Long Winter (RR)
22 These Happy Golden Years (RR)
23 The Joys of Love (RR)
24 Uglies
25 Pretties

Total: 25 Goal: 50

Currently reading:
Fahrenheit 451 (RR), Specials

Queue:
Wurthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Heaven’s Net is Wide (Book 5, Tales of the Otori), Altered Carbon, Little House books, Mainspring, Storm Glass

(RR) = reread

As you can probably see, most of the books are sci-fi/fantasy. Only a few are re-reads, which is surprising for me. I'm about halfway done book-wise, while I'm behind time-wise. One would think I could read more than two little kid books in one month (see May and June). I read so many books while I was pumping milk for Sabrina, I just kinda quit reading for awhile after that stopped. I wish I had been keeping track before January, I probably read over 50 books last year. It's a little different with a toddler. Eh, I'll do it, I just can't keep taking week long breaks between books.

As for battling the summer heat, we're spending a lot of time in swimsuits and playing in water

to do

2009-07-14T14:22:00.001-07:00

to do
set up topsy turvy with tomato plant
clean kitchen
look for bamboo size 3 circular needles
upload pictures to flickr*

*my card won’t read in my Mac, I can’t upload to flickr on Richard’s computer, netbook can’t do it… now what?

I swear I'll never...

2009-06-27T00:39:00.001-07:00

DSC00110, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Knit a scarf on anything smaller than a size 10.... Or so I told myself 5 or 6 years ago when I finally finished a scarf on 8s. It was a solid yellow scarf in Lion Brand cotton-ease for Richard. I think it took me months to knit.

Now, I default to size 8s for scarves. I've even knit one on size 5 needles (Rabbit-proof Scarf). I must have lost my mind. I went from loving 10.5s to loving 8s. What happened?

Anyways, the scarf above is Larissa's Cream of Spinach scarf. And yes, I do knit a lot of her patterns. She's local and cool, so why not? (time referance: I cast on this scarf Monday and I'm 1/4 done)

I'm using my left over 1/2 skein of Woobu in Spinel. On, yes, size 8 needles... my fave pair, Knit Picks Harmony. I'm not really sure who I'm knitting this for, but I thought I should start on my Christmas knitting now instead of waiting until it's too late. I'm also thinking about entering it in the Oregon State Fair if I finish it in time (um, I should look at the dead-lines... probably passed already?) I'm going to see who likes it the most as I knit it and then surprise them in December (my sis-in-law might have already won, though).

Swap

2009-06-16T23:05:00.001-07:00

DSC00099, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Pardon the crappy picture, I forgot to take a good picture before I sent these away. Thank goodness for camera phones (in poorly lit offices).

Some people have already reported receiving their potholders, so I can only hope I get mine soon! I put my work address, so I won't have to wait a long bus ride to see if they've arrived.

Long lasting knitwear?

2009-06-08T13:33:00.001-07:00

DSC_0435, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I knit this shrug when Sabrina was 6 months old in the 6 month size. As of today, she is 14 months and still wearing this little sweater. She is on the petite side, but just a little. I'm very surprised at how long she's been able to wear this.

I'm knitting another one for my cousin that's expecting and after that, I think I'll knit one the next size up (18 months) for Sabrina and we'll see how long she can wear it this time.

She's become quite the adventurous little one!

Yummy Keys!

2009-05-19T17:27:00.001-07:00

Yummy Keys!, originally uploaded by kay_skay_790.

Picture courtesy of my cousin.

There's no reason for this entry, I just thought it was a cute picture. We ate a few Friday's ago at Pambiche. They have wonderful Cuban food! I'm so going back. Even Sabrina liked it (as well as the keys, yuck!).

I am in love!

2009-04-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this is real love or an extreme infatuation... But I'm going to act on it. Yes, I'm going to order yarn from the internet and I am going to knit a loverly shawl with it... Yes, I will. I love the yarn so much. It's Twisted from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in the Beached colorway. I fell in love with the the little preview, not the actual skein picture.

And then there's the shawl, Shawl that Jazz. The Yarn Harlot knit it in Pucks Mischief (ravelry link). I'm smitten. It's like a triangle shawl, but no point. I'll have to buy the pattern, but I think it's worth it!

*swoon*

In other news:

My baby is 1! And she's walking! OMG! I'll have to do a proper post for that, though. But here's an obligatory picture (or 2) to keep you occupied.

(Lego phone: Can you hear me now?)

So, I joined a swap

2009-04-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

It's a hotpad/potholder swap. I have to crochet 5 hotpads in the same pattern (different colors are okay), ship them in and I'll get 5 different ones in the mail.

I'm a little nervous about this swap because it's my first one. It makes me nervous because I don't want to be the one that screws everything up. I'm not going to screw up, but that's beside the point.

Because I'm lazy, here's the post I made over on their blog:

I started out thinking I would test a couple different patterns, but I really like the first one I tried. They are (thankfully) a bit over 6 inches across. This has turned into quite the stash buster. So far I've used Plymouth Fantasy Naturale that was leftover from a pinwheel blanket and a baby shrug. I'm hoping I have enough without having to buy more.

The pattern is here. (ravelry) The construction is very interesting on these! Without the video, I would have been totally lost. I can see many more of these in my future.

umm.. wanna chat?

2009-04-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

I'm playing around with Omegle, a random, one on one chat room with a stranger. It's not as fun as I thought it would be, but oh well.

Stranger: everyone is rediculous on this thing

You: no doubt

Stranger: i guess thats to be expected though

Stranger: have you had any good conversations so far

You: no, just started... the first one started good, but then got immature.

Stranger: ive had 3 that lasted 10 seconds

You: I hear that's common

Stranger: even if you do find a good conversation it still seems like it would be a little lacking

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Then I talked for awhile with some 15 year old about bands. We didn't really connect except for liking the older Fall Out Boy stuff. I'm following him (her?) on twitter for shits and giggles. That's probably the best convo I've had yet.

Here's some more:

Stranger: I'm a horny gay guy.

You: 42

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

You: 42

Stranger: 9001

You: 685

Stranger: 504

You: 311

Stranger: I see what you did there

Stranger: i mean 604

You: oh yeah?

Stranger: damn

Stranger: it happened again

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

You: 42

Stranger: 21

Stranger: ....Penis

You: not another one

Stranger: ...Wanna have a penis fight?

You have disconnected.

I guess nobody has read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The only one that got it was the very first one:

You: 42
Stranger: is the answer
Stranger: to the universe?
Stranger: amidoingitright?
You: and everything
Stranger: ;darn
Stranger: it doesnt answer y i ******** too much though
Stranger: :(
You: are you sure?
Stranger: maybe
Stranger: u have me confused with some1 else im sorry

I'm not sure this is something I'll keep doing. One good match out of 10 isn't good odds. Although the penis fight one had me loling.

In my spare time...

2009-04-03T00:21:00.001-07:00

Sabrina, originally uploaded by kay_skay_790.

I made this for a Wild West birthday party. It's a little more Little House on the Prairie than Wild West, but that's okay. I'll have to get a better picture, but this works for now! And it'll double as a Halloween costume (before she has any say in it, pretty soon she'll want to be a princess)... I made the 1 year old size, but it's pretty big. I might have to redo the elastic in the wrists before October, but that should only take a few minutes.

I might also want to buy a bonnet pattern. I kind of fudged one so it doesn't fit, but it looks like a bonnet hanging down her back (just like Laura Ingalls Wilder wore hers)

Keep Portland Twisted

2009-03-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

I just saw on the Twisted blog that they have a cute tote bag for sale that says "Keep Portland twisted"

Of course I'm going to buy it. It's cute, reusable and you get a 5% discount when you bring it back and use it.

As a side note, I've been thinking about my blogging habits recently. I've been posting 5 time more to this blog than my private one (on myspace). It use to be the other way around. Am I not sharing my feelings with my friend anymore or am I just being lazy. There's tons of topics in my head every week but they never make it onto either blog.

I'm leaning towards lazy. With Sabrina, I really don't have much internet time anymore and what I do have is spent mindlessly staring at facebook or ravelry.

Just today I had a story to tell, but now I don't think It's important. It starts with my SIL having "water on the knee" and ends with me buying a pair of U of O rain boots... Totally random. Wanna hear it?

Last week Erin was only working on Friday (Great Wolf Lodge until Tuesday, one day rest and Thursday daycare was closed). She show's up to work with the hugely swollen knee and ended up being taken to the doctor by one of the attorneys. She didn't come back to work because they gave her this awful medicine that totally stoned her. I went over there Saturday to watch Evan so J.P. could take Alivia to ballet (apparently it's hard to watch a 2 year old when you're passed out on the couch). This Monday and Tuesday she came to work, but couldn't take her meds or she wouldn't be able to do anything and she had a huge tax return due.

Tuesday night they picked Sabrina up from daycare for me and her knee wasn't getting better. The swelling was down, but it was spreading. She was going to watch Sabrina for me this afternoon, but we decided that she probably shouldn't watch 3 kids if she couldn't walk.

Daycare was closed today. So, instead of Richard dropping Sabrina off with Erin when he went to work, he picked me up from work early and I dropped him off.

Sorry, this is all discombobulated because I'm tired and should be sleeping...

On with the story. I had a gift card for Macy's and decided to go and spend it since I had some extra time. I didn't find anything... I was checking out the shoes when I found them... University of Oregon rain boots! I took a picture and sent it to my cousin in Texas because they're HUGE UofO fans. I just thought it was a funny picture, but she texted me back saying she wanted them. I feel like I was on some kind of journey for some unknown reason. But everythign happpens for a reason, right? Maybe the guy upstairs wanted my cousin to have those boots. I don't know. I'm going to send them tomorrow, if I can find a better box. I hope it doesn't cost too much to send, the boots were only $11.70 (the tag said $40, but also said $24).

Great Wolf Lodge

2009-02-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

As a mini-vacation, my mom took us to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA (North of Centralia) for a few days. None of us had been there and we had heard mixed reviews. So we went knowing that it wasn't Disneyland and that we might not like it.

We did have fun! Yes, it isn't Disney, but it was fun. I would suggest not going on a weekend. We checked in on Sunday and it was a mad house! Monday was better and Tuesday there was hardly anybody there. The prices on the buffet fluctuate, depending on the day. Monday it was more expensive than Tuesday. We only ate there for breakfast. The other restaurant was pretty good. Erin found something in her food and they were quick to identify it (it wasn't anything gross, a bit of plastic) and they comped her meal and a dessert (chocolate fondue!)

Sabrina acted like she had an ear infection the first night (cried all night unless she was nursing). The next day we were going to take her to the urgent care, but they didn't open until 6pm and by that time Sabrina was acting normal. The second night she woke up once, so we weren't concerned.

We went on all the water slides and some of them are pretty wild! The more weigh, the faster you went. On Tuesday there was practically no lines on the 4 big slides, so we went over and over and over.

One of my fave things was this gigantic bucket:

Pretty cool stuff.

And she does have ear infections, both ears.... again! Poor baby.

2009-02-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

Project info

Pattern: Super Quick Baby Bonnet by Dilys Sutherland

Made for: Sabrina's baptism

Size: fits her at 9 months

Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm & US 5 / 3.75 mm
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Solid

Notes: I changed out the lace pattern for the Gull pattern from February baby sweater (EZ) and I knit the decreases in the round per other ravelrs.

I also knit another shrug, but I don't have a good picture of that yet....

We've just been invited to a western themed birthday party and I've decided I need to make Sabrina a little pioneer outfit. I have a month, I bet I can at least sew a bonnet and maybe a dress. I'm having troubles finding a dress pattern, but I'll ask some of my more... sewing-friendly friends what they think.

Christmas projects

2009-01-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hacky Sacks for 2nd cousins.
Yarn: Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton from stash
Hook: Don't remember, but it's a tight gauge
Pattern: My own. Maybe I'll write it up some day. Very ease, just used basic crochet knowledge.
Notes: Filled half full with polypellets

Octopus for one of the twins
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't remember
Pattern: Octopode Pandemonium (ravelry)

Octopus for the other twin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't remember
Pattern: Amigurumi Octopus (ravelry)

Chapstick cozy for teen 2nd cousin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't recall (I know, I'm so bad!)
Pattern: Chapstick/lipbalm holder (ravelry)

Mini purses
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Pattern: My own
Notes: One strap is braided and the other one I crochet with two strands of yarn held together (loosely with the same sized hook). Buttons were found in stash.

Soft ball for a 2nd cousin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver and another unknown acrylic from stash held together
Pattern: Used the same pattern as the hacky sacks, just a bigger hook
Notes: Stuffed with Polyfill.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-31T12:41:00.001-08:00

(photos copyrighted by jcpenny, used with permission)

'noman

2008-12-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

One good thing that came from the *dun dun duh* Arctic Blast 08 is that we finally got to make a snowman! My niece has been wanting to make a snowman since it started snowing two weeks ago. At first the snow didn’t stick, then it blew around all blizzard-like… When that stopped, it was too powdery. We finally got some snowman making snow a few days ago, but by the time she woke up from nap it was raining (well, freezing rain).

Then it started snowing on Christmas. Then it poured down rain. Then it snowed again! The weather has gone all schizophrenic on us. When it stopped snowing, we were finally able to go out and make the snowman. Good thing she got a snowman making kit for Christmas! There was enough snow left over to make another one, but people were getting cold and the turkey was almost out of the oven.

Which brings me to another good thing about the *dun dun dun* Arctic Blast 08. We cooked the whole Christmas eve dinner by ourselves (our generation: me, Richard, my sis-in-law and her sister). We had fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and corn bread. Then for dessert we had blueberry swirl cheesecake!

For Christmas dinner, we at least had my mom there to help with things. It was our first turkey! We were supposed to go to my aunt’s house in Scappoose, but that wasn’t an option. We were going to deep fry it… Well, we had to bake it, but it turned out really good. Richard brined it and we baked it in the convection oven. Er… and we had green beans and mashed potatoes again, but that’s okay, they were gooooood! I even made gravy (yes, hell might have froze over). I personally think the gravy was the best part of the dinner, but I may be bias. We finished it up with more blueberry swirl cheesecake and peanut butter cream pie.

Today was back to work after having snow days all this week. My bus still isn’t running so I’m relying on others to get me to and from work. Hopefully it will be running by Monday.

Snow Day!

2008-12-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Bloggers:
Sunday was a snow day in Portland (and surrounding areas). I love the snow. However, the silly East wind blew the whole time. This is my only picture, from my cell phone as I ran from the car to my brother's house. Yes, I did leave and take my precious baby across town in the blizzard to bake cookies... okay, it wasn't quite a blizzard, but I've never seen snow blown around quite like it was on Sunday.

It's going to snow tomorrow, perhaps. They aren't often right... but they were right about Sunday. Maybe it won't be so windy and I can bundle Sabrina up and get some pictures... if it does snow.

I got to work yesterday morning via public transportation (good ol' trimet). My building was closed, but the office was open. I decided to treat myself to a Seattle's Best eggnog latte and it was gross! I should have just crossed the street to Starbucks, but it was so cold! Learned my lesson...

I've let my flickr account expire. I've just been too lazy to renew it. However, I've exceded my monthly uploads already (from before it expired), so I might do that tonight. I have some pictures to upload of the kids playing nicely together (for all of 2 minutes).

8 months

2008-12-08T17:06:00.001-08:00

DSC_0263, originally uploaded by a-chan.

8 months, really?

Stats:
Sitting
Almost crawling forward, but can get where she wants most of the time by rolling, scooting, crawling backwards and doing 360s on her bum.
Waving. Yes, she's an early waver (okay, not all that early, the interwebs say not all 8 month olds can).
Leans towards me with outstretched arms if she wants me to hold her
She says: "Ah-da-da-da-da" and "Mom-mom-mom-mom" and sometimes there's an "N" in there for "mnah-nah-nah"
Going slow on the food because of her eczema. It's hard to tell if she's really allergic to foods or if her skin is flaring up for other reasons.

Naps in the car and then won't nap at home (as in, 5 minute car rides from church to home or the mall to a restaurant across the street).

Up next: project info in that cute hat and the cornucopia I crocheted for Thanksgiving.

Blue Moon De-Stash sale

2008-12-06T23:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, you caught me. I didn't go. My SIL and I have been talking about getting the kids' pictures taken (professionally)... and talking and talking and talking. Well, they had my oldest niece this weekend, so we made the appointment.

Yeah, 9:40am in Clackamas. There was no possible way to get to Scappoose in time for the sale. The pictures are really cute. They're going to email me some images that I can use online. I'll post them as soon as I get them.

But back to the yarn sale. My cousin DID go and she got me some goooood stuff! I gave her a $30 limit and the kinds of yarn I like and she knows my colors. This is what she found:

The blue-ish one is Twisted and the green is Worsten Wear. I can't wait to pick these up from her. I'm thinking baby sweaters (no surprise there, I seem to be in a baby rut. Not a bad place to be when you have a baby!)

Up next: 8 month update! (insert freak out here)

In the wild

2008-12-06T08:36:00.001-08:00

DSC00118, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I think I probably blogged this one back in the day when I did it. If not here's it's ravelry page: 1st feather and fan scarf

This just in:

2008-11-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

Richard used the word "frogging" correctly in a sentence! As in: "Are you frogging that whole thing?" (with his tone being "What the hell are you doing, it was almost done!") ... I wasn't. My gourd was too long, so I shortened it.

Project info

Pattern - Octopode Pandemonium by PepperKitty

Made for - Ally

Hook - 3.75 mm (F)

Yarn - Caron Simply Soft from stash
Mods - none that I can remember

Notes: This was a hit with the the adults, the birthday girl (4!) was running around all crazy like so I'm not sure if she liked it or not. I sewed the legs on as I finished them and they are a bit crooked. The one I'm working on now I'm waiting to finish all the legs, then pin them on before I sew it.

Now I'm in a crocheting mood. I have 3 legs left on the next octopus and I'm most of the way through a cornucopia for Thanksgiving (just have a corn ear and an eggplant left, I'm done with the pumpkin, squash, and apple). After that, who knows? (well, I know. I just cast on for some washclothes that match the yellow/pink/orange shrug for Gracie's 1st birthday. I think I'll buy some cool soap for her since Sabrina has to use the boring soap.)

FO parade

2008-11-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

Project infoPattern - Confection Baby Shrug by Tonya Wagner
Made for - Sabrina
Size - 6 month

Needles - US 8 / 5.0 mm & US 9 / 5.5 mm

Yarn - Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted in Spinel
Mods - For the sleeves, I went up a needle size and knit them in round.

Project info

Name - baby shrug

Pattern - Confection Baby Shrug by Tonya Wagner
Size - 12 month
Made for - Gracie
Needles - US 8 / 5.0 mm & US 7 for the edge
Yarn - Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Multi & Solid. Lost the ball band a few years ago, so I don't know what colors they are without looking it up.

Modeled by - Sabrina @ 7 months
Mods - I went down a needle size for the ribbing.

ps. please ignore the big foot in the first picture, i can't edit it out right now... at least it's not an ugly foot.

Month7

2008-11-11T15:41:00.001-08:00

DSC_0031, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Foods eaten:
rice cereal
carrots
bananas (real and packaged)
green beans

Up next:
sweet potatoes

Ready for Halloween?

2008-10-29T17:26:00.001-07:00

DSC_0123, originally uploaded by a-chan.

We sure are! Well, I'm hoping we are. We took Sabrina to the drs office on Tuesday because I thought she might have a bladder infection (she didn't). Instead, they found pretty bad ear infections. Her only symptoms were a fever (101.1 which dropped before we even got there) and a runny nose.

So my happy baby is on amoxicillin for the second time. Both Richard and I are allergic to penicillin, so I’ve been a nut case about this. So far so good. She’s hasn’t been fussy at all and has still been sleeping real well. It’s like she’s not sick at all. She gave me a big old grin this morning before I left for work.

I’m hoping she’ll be okay going trick-or-treating around the block with her cousins (as a penguin). Keylie, Alivia and Evan are going as Wendy, Princess Tigerlily and Peter Pan (respectively). My SIL is worried about dressing Alivia up as an Indian, but I don’t think it’s a problem. Would there be a problem if she wanted to dress up as Pocahontas? I could be way off about this... I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m “wrong”

I've finished some projects recently, but of course I haven't taken any picture of them!

Sabrina @ 6 months

2008-10-16T17:08:00.001-07:00

IMGP0075, originally uploaded by a-chan.

(although this pix is from OFFF, so it's not "new")

6 month stats:
14lbs 5oz
25.5in long

We finally started her on rice cereal. We waited the full 6 months because of her skin problem, but she doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Next up, carrots!

I ended up shaving off her mullet/reverse monk do. She ended up with a cool mohawk, but that's falling out now too. I look back at the pictures from the first couple of months and get a little teary eyed at how small she was and how much hair she had... *sniff sniff*

Big decision time

2008-09-26T12:56:00.001-07:00

Blue ribbon!, originally uploaded by a-chan.

So, here's another way back moment. I've blogged about this sweater before, but the short story is that I don't really like it, it's too warm, doesn't fit properly (come on, it's chunky yarn... on a chunky body!). Every time I think "hey maybe I can wear it," I pull it out and put it on and it doesn't fit and it's itchy.

I've been thinking about this for over a year. I think I’m going to frog it. I know, sounds horrible. Frogging a blue ribbon sweater? Who really does that, really? But I’m tired of it sitting there. I think I could make a Versatility wit the yarn, if it frogs well. If not, then I'll knit something to felt.

What do you think?

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

2008-09-26T11:49:00.001-07:00

MOV00047
Originally uploaded by a-chan

Just testing the video "blog this" on flickr. My phone takes crappy videos, I know... And don’t pay any attention to the background noices (unless you want to hear about changing diapers after a kid has eaten grapes...)

The way back machine

2008-09-24T14:03:00.001-07:00

DSC_0162, originally uploaded by a-chan.

This was my first ever finished project! I knit a lot of it on the drive from Portland to Dallas (Texas! Not Oregon!) I believe it was red heart, held double, probably on size 10 needles. It must have been 2003, but I don’t really remember.

I recently found it in the bottom of my brothers closet.

Corn maze @ The Pumpkin Patch

2008-09-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

DSC_0049, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I'm not sure why I like this picture so much. Sometimes the focus on my camera doesn't focus on what I want it to, but I take the picture anyways. I almost cropped it down, but I like that little ear of corn on the right side.

Anyways, Sabrina and I spent Saturday afternoon at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie's Island. It was the first time any of us had been over the new bridge... not quite as exciting as I thought!

We did the maze. I've never done it before. It was more fun than I thought it would be. When we use to go to the pumpkin patch, it was to pick pumpkins! But that was in the late 80s/early 90s. There was no corn maze. I've been put off of the maze simply because it seemed it was always packed. What's the fun in getting lost in the corn if you're surrounded by 50 other people?

So we went early. There was one other family (a mom and two boys). We were actually a little lost for awhile! It was great. Sabrina slept in the ergo the whole time. She's such a good baby!

Then we went to the market. Got some potatoes, corn and pumpkin butter. I'm really excited about the pumpkin butter! I have some whole wheat toaster biscuits that are begging me to try it on them.

Knitting news:
I have a baby sweater finished (except for buttons and other "finishing") and a second one that is so close to being done! I ran out of yarn, so it's going to be short sleeved. Maybe I'll finish it this week on the bus.

Cape Meares LIghthouse

2008-09-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

DSC_0227, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Sharkwater

2008-08-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

On vacation, Richard convinced me that we needed to go to the Maui Ocean Center. We went there my very first trip to Maui (5 years ago, maybe?) I wasn't sure I wanted to go this year. Sabrina is too little to really enjoy any of it. But we went anyways.

There was a video playing, it had already started when we walked in, but we decided to stay anyways since we paid to be in there. It was the most amazing conservation video I've ever seen. It really changed something inside me. I feel outraged, saddened and sorry for sharks.

On the ride "home" (to Richard's mom's house) we were both very quite and thoughtful. Eventually Richard said "I want to buy that DVD." Up until that point, I wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

The movie can be very disturbing, I wouldn't let young kids watch it. I just want to share it with everyone I know. Check out the trailer!

And I just checked, netflix has it (DVD and blu-ray).

Back from Maui....

2008-08-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

@ big beach, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Some day we'll move there. Even with their measly selection of yarn stores... that's what the internet is for, right? I never want to leave and I always want to go back.

Doh!

2008-07-23T17:14:00.001-07:00

DSC_0202, originally uploaded by a-chan.

So I thought I missed the deadline to have my paper work in for the Oregon State Fair. I went to check and I still have a few days, however, I'm going to be leaving for Maui on the 30th and I won't be back until August 13th, 2 days after the drop off day. I guess I could ask some one really nicely to drop my stuff off, but I've been a slacker and the sweater and scarf I was going to enter are not done. They could be done by the 11th, but they can't be done by the 29th. Oh well. There's always next year.

And why should I be complaining at all, I'm going to Maui! Sabrina is going to meet her lelong and all her aunties and uncles.

Besides showing Sabrina off, we're really going to Richard's brother's wedding. I need to find something to wear! Nothing I own fits, my body hasn't decided what it's going to do. The maternity clothes are too big, but my old pants won't button! ACK!

photo fun

2008-07-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

photo fun, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Or, more like PhotoFunia.com.

At first when I saw the link on Mason-Dixon Knitting, I thought it was cool. Then when I clicked the link, I didn't think it was cool... but then I tried it and I guess it is pretty cool!

On the knitting front, I'm most of the way through my Mabel's Scarf. I am using the recommended Malabrigo Merino Worsted. I just started the second skein, but I don't think I'll use the whole thing. I have only been knitting on the bus, so nobody had seen the scarf. I brought it out at scrapbooking night and now everyone wants one for Christmas. I guess that's fine as long as I start now. $22 for the yarn and tons of hours knitting with it are worthy of Christmas presents. I was already thinking of knitting one for my dad out of either black or a charcoal.

I'm seriously debating buying the Country Kiddie pattern. I think it will look adorable on Sabrina. If I buy it now, I can *maybe* have it done before vacation (Maui, here we come!)

meme

2008-07-17T17:21:00.001-07:00

meme, originally uploaded by a-chan.
1. Annika and Aimee, 2. popcorn box cake, 3. Creepy B&W, 4. ♫ YO Yo yo, there's no place like a green penthouse... so i told the genie i wanted to be well hung. ^o^ ♫ nah... wildlife from singapore♫, 5. Wentworth Miller, 6. Zooming, 7. The Boardwalk, 8. SWEETIE PIE, 9. february baby sweater, 10. a cup of chubby goodness, 11. Happy Birthday Flickr Account, 12. Cotton Candy
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I saw this meme on a few blogs today and decided I needed to join in on the fun! I think I saw it first on Stitch Marker, then on Ruby Banshee... I thought I saw it somewhere else, but I can't remember now.

If you want to join along:
Use fd’s Flickr Toys,

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
Using only the first page, pick an image.
Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

What is your first name?
What is your favorite food?
What high school did you go to?
What is your favorite color?
Who is your celebrity crush?
Favorite drink?
Dream vacation?
Favorite dessert?
What you want to be when you grow up?
What do you love most in life?
One Word to describe you.
Your flickr name.

Mable's

2008-07-17T10:12:00.001-07:00

DSC00038, originally uploaded by a-chan.

for the fun of it

2008-06-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting a little... as in, 4 baby socks (one pair and two singles). I've weaved in ends to a baby blanket for a cousin that has been "done" for almost two months.

Here's some pics... not of knitting, but a cute baby:

(granny, cousin evan and sabrina)

Sabrina is smiling, but never for the camera. She's sleeping at least 6 hours in a row at night, sometimes more like 8. She has some cradle cap and a constant "baby rash" on her cheeks. But she's cute!

And I don't want to go back to work. I got the date moved from the 30th to the 1st so I'll only have a 3 day week... daycare would prefer to start at the beginning of the month. We surprisingly got her in the same daycare as her cousins, yay! I was always close to my cousins and I'm glad that Sabrina will be close to hers. Alivia really loves her, but Evan is a little uncertain. He didn't attach himself to me like Alivia did, so I'm not sure if that's the difference or it could be that he's a boy or that he's young enough not to know what to think. Alivia is really cute with Sabrina. She's always telling me "her is pretty" and asking to hold her.... I should find a picture of that, it's really cute.

I do have pictures of some of the socks, so maybe I'll post them soon.

Sabrina’s story

2008-06-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

(This is a warning to those who may not want to read this, it is a birth story and I may write some things that may be TMI)

Figuring out where to start this is hard.

After my OB told me was was ready to give birth, I started walking a lot trying to bring on labor, like people say really works... it doesn't. After 2 weeks, I hadn't progressed any farther and I stopped the extra walks.

Sunday, April 6th, I woke up really sore. I thought it was weird because I hadn't been on an extra walk in almost a week. I drove out to Scappoose for dinner at Aunt T's house, thinking that another thing people say brings on labor is driving far from the hospital. During the day my thighs got more and more sore and we all decided I was going to go into labor soon. We even made jokes of it happening on the way back into town. (Sore thighs are the beginning of back labor, if you didn't know, I didn't)

Of course, I got home and nothing happened. Sad and not wanting to go to work in the morning, I went to bed (about midnight). No sooner than I fell asleep, I had to go to the bathroom really bad. I jumped up and was halfway across the room when I noticed my underwear was wet and thought, that's weird, I need to check the bed when I'm done. I made it to the bathroom and just as I sat down, my water broke. (It probably broke in bed, but ran fast enough). But, I was stuck on the toilet because whenever I started to stand up, more came out.

I thought that I would labor at home until I needed to go to the hospital. However, they like you to deliver in under 24 hours after your water breaks because of possibilities of infection. Contractions didn't start until two hours after the water broke. The hospital wanted me to call them back at 6:30 to see where I was. That was silly because they would have had me come in whether I was contracting or not. They did let me eat a little before I checked in (yogurt).

I checked in around 8 and was in triage for a few hours. They didn't believe me that I was having contractions because the monitors weren't picking them up. And they weren't sure that my water broke because the ultrasound machine showed a lot of water. I was sure I was having contractions and that my water broke.

Once they admitted me, I got the "good" nurses who believed me that I was having contractions and that my water broke (it didn't help that I was leaking all over the place). Grandma Thanua, Aunt Sharon and and La Rae showed up minutes after got to our room and they totally distracted me while I got my iv. Then mom showed up.

They decided against the pitocin because I was having contractions and it would be best if I didn't have to have the pitocin.

What happened the rest of the day kind of runs all together. I know I took a shower and I walked all over the place until I couldn't stand it and got the epidural. They started the pitocin then. I don't know when that happened. I remember taking a nap right after the epidural and then knitting a bit. We watched little people big world and jon and kate + 8.

At some point later it was announced that there was just a tiny bit of cervics left and they decided to "help" it a little. That hurt.

Some point later they decided I could start pushing. I had just had a bit more medicine put in my epidural so I really couldn't feel the pushing for awhile. But I pushed for 2.5 hours. The birthing classes told us that the average for new moms is 2-4 hours of pushing. Most people I have talked to didn't push for very long, and definitely not even close to 2 hours.

Oh. they had me convinced I was pushing out a 9 pound baby. When she finally came out and they put her on my stomach, she was this slimy little thing. No way was she 9 lbs. but I didn't say anything until they weighed her (6lbs 13.5 oz). When she was coming out, the doctor made a surprised sound and said something along the lines of "well, hello there! you're facing the wrong way!" She came out sunnyside up, which is one reason they thought she was bigger than she was.

Then they delivered the placenta, no biggy. But wait, there was more! I had a bunch of blood clots up there that they also had to get rid of. I swear that hurt more than the actual deliver.

Sabrina was born at 12:50. They listed my labor lasting 25 hours. I also had a fever and because I'm allergic to penicillin, they gave me some strong ass antibiotics that ate my veins. They were going to have to give me a 3rd iv, but my bloodwork came back good and I didn't have to have any more meds.

We had to stay an extra day because of my fever. When they took Sabrina to the nursery to do her exam, they decided her jaundice was bad enough to need the phototherapy. She only needed 24 hours of it, so we didn't leave the hospital until Friday the 11th. The phototherapy was hard. She had to stay under the lights for 3 hours at a time, then I got to feed her, pump and Richard gave her a bottle of either pumped milk or formula. Then she had to go back under the lights. The special care nursery rooms are only really set up for one person to stay with the baby, but Richard wasn't going to leave us so we made do.

I wish I hadn't been sick during my maternity leave, I hardly feel I've had the full time off. I wish I could have another month off. But I can't. I go back to work on July 1st. The good news is that we got Sabrina a spot at the daycare that Evan and Alivia (and Keylie for the summer). Man, childcare is expensive!

laparoscopic cholecystectomy

2008-06-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought my next blog was going to be about Sabrina and my labor story. I didn't get to it, but I will. For now, though, I'd like to share with you that I no longer have a gallbladder.

The surgery went well. It was early Thursday morning and I slept most of the day. I couldn't nurse Sabrina for 24 hours, so I had the fun time of doing "pump n dumps." With the anesthesia and vicodin, I couldn't feel that my boobs were about ready to burst. I woke up and looked at the clock and realized it had been a good 9 hours since I fed Sabrina. I seriously looked like I had two large cantaloupes growing out of me (good thing i couldn't feel the pain involved). Sabrina ate through all my stored milk and took the formula (yay! she wouldn't the last time we had to give it to her).

So, all's well. I'm a bit sore and I should be going to bed (you'd think the vicodin would help with that). Mom is stayed a few nights with us to help with Sabrina (yay! i got to sleep as long as I wanted!) Erin came over Thursday afternoon when Richard had to go to work. I'm so thankful that my family is so helpful!

I guess that's all. Next blog will be about Sabrina, I promise!

wasting time

2008-05-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Because the baby fell asleep and Richard isn't home from work yet:

Using the top 100 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again;
~~Cross~~ out the ones you’ve used and would not use again;
and Italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
(and i'm doing nothing to the ones that i'm not even interested in)

Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters. Link back to this post and to the person who tagged you.

1. Cascade 220 Wool - sad, I know, I'll use it when I have a project for it, but i'm not really into 100% wool that's not superwash
2. Patons Classic Wool Merino
3. Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted
4. Noro Kureyon - just enough for one of those cool stripy scarves. i'd only use it again for a felting project
5. ~~Caron Simply Soft~~
6. Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid
7. Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted
9. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid
10. Noro Silk Garden - some day i'll have the money for some
11. Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM)
12. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
13. ~~Lion Brand Homespun~~
14. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
15. Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi
16. Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool
17. Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky - LOVE this yarn for chunky hats... can you say "meathead?"
18. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
19. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Lightweight
20. Plymouth Encore Worsted
21. Cascade 220 Heathers
22. Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres & Prints
23. Zitron Trekking (XXL) .
24. Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes)
25. Rowan Kidsilk Haze
26. Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
27. Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc. Peaches & Creme Ombres
28. Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
29. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Mediumweight
30. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
31. Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc. Peaches & Creme Solids
32. Cascade 220 Superwash
33. Berroco Ultra Alpaca
34. Knit Picks Swish Superwash
35. Knit Picks Essential
36. Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid
37. Colinette Jitterbug
38. Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid
39. Knit Picks Shine Sport
40. Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull
41. Lion Brand Microspun - a bit splitty, but it's soft.
42. Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino
43. Knit Picks Palette
44. South West Trading Company TOFUtsies
45. Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool
46. Mission Falls 1824 Wool
47. Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK
48. Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres - it has it's place, I swear...
49. Rowan Felted Tweed - i'm not sure if i would use it again, i still have an awful lot of it
50. Rowan Calmer
51. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Heather
52. Knit Picks Merino Style
53. Garnstudio Drops Alpaca
54. Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering
55. Knit Picks Andean Silk
56. Red Heart Ltd. Soft Yarn Solids
57. Elann Peruvian Highland Wool
58. Tahki Cotton Classic
59. Dream in Color Smooshy
60. Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton
61. Dream in Color Classy
62. Rowan Big Wool
63. Peace Fleece Worsted
64. Caron Simply Soft Brites
65. Plymouth Galway Worsted
66. Karabella Aurora 8
67. Rowan Wool Cotton
68. Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton
69. Knit Picks Shine Worsted
70. Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock
71. Lion Brand Fun Fur Solid - it has it's place
72. Misti International Misti Alpaca Chunky
73. Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk
74. Mountain Colors Bearfoot
75. Lion Brand Jiffy Solid
76. Knit Picks Shadow - well, i haven't used it, but it's in my stash
77. Bernat Softee Chunky Solids & Marls
78. Austermann Step
79. Bernat Cottontots Solid
80. Cascade Ecological Wool
81. Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud
82. Patons Shetland Chunky
83. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
84. Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted
85. Malabrigo Yarn Lace
86. Bernat Satin Solids
87. Lily Sugar’n Cream Stripes
88. Knit Picks Gloss
89. Lion Brand Magic Stripes
90. Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk
91. Cascade 220 Quatro
92. Rowan All Seasons Cotton
93. Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Solid
94. JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18
95. Novita 7 Veljestä
96. Rowan Kid Classic
97. Mission Falls 1824 Cotton
98. Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Multi
99. Cascade Fixation Spray Dyed/Effects
100.Patons Kroy Socks 4-Ply

Sabrina Noelani

2008-04-11T21:06:00.001-07:00

DSC_0059, originally uploaded by a-chan.

We're finally home!

Sabrina Noelani was born at 12:49am on April 8, 2008. She's 6lbs 13.5 oz, 20 inches long and her head is 12.5 inches. She was born sunnyside up, so her head is shaped a bit funny and she has a bad bruise. We ended up staying a few days extra because she was born a bit over 24 hours after my water broke and because of my fever during labor. She also had jaundice, so she recieved 24 hours of phototherapy.

I'll go into more detail later, it's a fun story. Click to see more pictures.

o hai!

2008-03-25T14:22:00.001-07:00

DSC00035, originally uploaded by a-chan.

O Hai!

No baby news. I’m walking, I’m working and I’m drinking a lot of water. The only other thing I know of to get the baby moving would be very uncomfortable right now.

The picture was taken on my lunch walk. I walked by it yesterday and thought of taking a picture, but I just kept walking. Today, I decided SOMEONE needed to take the picture.

I almost couldn’t get out of bed this morning to go to work. I wasn’t planning on working until I go into labor, but my last day is set for April 11. If I stop working now that labor is immanent and then I don’t actually have her for another week or two, well, I would be out of that money. I’m just hoping my water doesn’t break at work because I’m not bringing a change of clothes to work every day and it would take Richard 30 minutes to get here.

Every little pain, twinge, strain and weird feeling makes me stop and think to myself “is this it?” But it’s not and life goes on. I really didn’t think I’d get to the point of wanting to be done with being pregnant... and I’m not really. I’m just so anxious for her to be here. They were teasing me when they said it would be in the next two weeks... well, I do have one week of the two left, so I guess it could happen.

Baby update - March Baby?

2008-03-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

So, I went to my appointment today and had my first "check" to see where I am and apparently I'm 90% effaced and 2 cm dilated and her head is in the 0 position... For those of you that don't know what that means, well, I'm getting ready to pop, a month early (of course, you can't predict that sort of thing, but it will be sooner rather than later). I definitely won't see my due date.... and it will probably be in March (for a reminder, I'm due April 18th)

I was told that a lot of women might be mad at me because they would have been in a lot more discomfort than me if they were about ready. I wasn't all that surprised, I knew something was going on down there, but I really didn't think I was that far along.

Maybe the next baby update will be when she's born!

I was looking for a picture of me, but we still don't have a good one that shows off the belly. All the pictures from the baby shower are of me sitting down unwrapping presents... and I look like a whale... okay, maybe not that bad, but with my dark pants, it looks like my lower body is a big blob! So instead, you get a picture of some happy onion rings:

One whole month!

2008-03-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

So I just went to see when my last post was... Feb. 14th and today is March 14th. I should probably do a baby update and then share my FOs (yes, I've been cranking things out since my last post).

Baby update:
A few weeks ago I was woken up by a call from Kaiser saying that the "specialist" had reviewed my last ultrasound and had ordered up some non-stress tests... Twice a week till the end of my pregnancy. For those of you that don't know what a non-stress test is: They make me go in and strap me into the baby monitors (same ones used in the labor rooms) to monitor the baby's heartbeat (both at rest and when she's active) and any contractions. I'm not sure if this next part is normal, but they did a short little ultrasound to check on the amniotic fluid levels. Of course this news freaked my mom out (a nurse) and she almost canceled her trip to Disneyland. Good thing that the first test was before she left because I "passed" with flying colors and Mom agreed to go to Disneyland. I would have felt really guilty if she had stayed home for no reason.

The second test wasn't so good. Baby Banana didn't want to wake up and stay awake. It was kind of stressful because they weren't really saying out loud what was going on. They used this buzzer thing to try and wake her up... imagine a vibrator that makes a buzzing noise like a game show's buzzer. That test took an hour and a half instead of 20 minutes... but in the end everything was okay.

The third test was just as good as the first one and I met with my normal lady afterwards and she said I didn't need to go for those tests any more! I was excited because the $20 co-pay twice a week would have added up to a good chunk of change.

I haven't been in since then, but my next appointment is Monday. I think I've finally made it to the uncomfortable faze. I'm having a harder time sleeping at night, I've finally started having some Braxton-hicks contractions (I actually thought I might have needed to make a trip to labor and delivery last night, but they stopped), and I'm feeling just a bit off. This pregnacy has been such a mild one, that I didn't think I'd ever reach the point where I'd want out (or, I'd want Baby Banana out.. hehe). Oh, I might add, I'm at 35 weeks now, two more weeks till full term, 5 weeks until due date. I'm hoping for sooner than later. She should be about 5.25 lbs now.

And for the FOs:

Ravelry project page
Pattern: Baby sweater on two needles - The Knitters Almanac (Elizabeth Zimmermann)
Yarn: Socks that Rock - Mediumweight (mill end)
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Mods: I decided on only 3 button holes, all three in the garter stitch section. The first time I knit this I didn't like how many button holes I ended up with in the end.

Ravelry project page
Pattern: Daisy from knitty - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria (two skeins)
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Mods: Went down two needles sizes hoping for a bit of a smaller sweater for a coming home outfit, but it still looks kinda big.
Things I would do differently: I don't like sewing up seams, so I think I would try to figure out how to do it with out having to sew the seams, should be easy...

Could this be nesting?

2008-02-14T17:28:00.001-08:00

DSC00023, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Last night I had this strong urge to bake cupcakes... Okay, maybe I was just craving them. I skipped the knit night at cubespace so I could go home and bake.

I didn't want to go to the store, so I used what I had.... a box of devil food's cake mix was in the back of the cupboard! Then, I didn't have enough cream cheese for frosting, so I scoured my cupcake books and found a buttercream icing I could do. I don't like butter cream, but it turn out good and everybody at work loved it! They totally ate all of them, it's a good thing I left some at home for us!

But now I'm out of red food coloring and powdered sugar, so I do need to make a trip to the store... oh well, at least I didn't use all the milk and eggs.

Help me decide!

2008-02-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have seen the challenge on Mason-Dixon Knitting... if not, well, they wanted people to dress up something from their house... I thought my penguin statue needed a cloak. Richard thought the gnome needed a hat. But I can only have one entry. Please let me know which one you like the best! A comment works, or if you want, a ravelry message works to (I changed my name there to a-chan). Please click the images to see their full sizes on flickr.

The penguin in his magician's cloak:

The ikea gnome in his winter set:

baby update and February baby sweater

2008-02-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Okay, I suppose it's time for another baby update. I don't remember where I left off (and I'm too lazy to check!).

I will start with some answers from questions the other Aimee asked: My due date is April 18th. And about the ultrasounds, back in December I had an abnormal ultrasound (I had low amniotic fluid). So I was sent to a specialist who told me that even though it's low, it's still in the normal range. But she thought it would be best if I had ultrasounds once a month just to check it out. My OB agreed. My 6th ultrasound is scheduled for the 20th. It's nice getting to see the baby a lot, but it's also a little stressful knowing that there might be something wrong. So far so good, but things can change. And I'm having a girl! Sabrina Noelani. My husband wanted a Hawaiian middle name because he was born in Hawaii (but he's not Hawaiian).

The newest baby news is that I passed the glucose test so I don't have gestational diabetes. Yay! Since I'm a little overweight and since diabetes runs in both sides of my family, I have taken the test twice and have passed with flying colors both times! Oh, and I'm not anemic, so no iron supplements for me! YAY! I've only gained 14lbs, which is good. I got a stern talking to at the last appointment because I gained too much in 6 weeks, but since I hadn't gained anything before that, I just got the "don't do it again," but it was over Christmas..... And I'm happy to say that at yesterday's appointment I hadn't gained anything. That does worry me a bit, but they don't think there's anything wrong with it. I mean, I don't think I can possibly eat any more food! Unless, of course, they want me to have a milkshake everyday...

Knitting progress: I finished Daisy from knitty, I just have to sew the seams up.... I don't think I'll do that pattern again since there's so much seaming to do, I'd rather do it in the round. I've also started a February Baby Sweater (or Baby Sweater on Two Needles (February)) for my cousin who is having twins!! And because I need a picture (no matter how crap-tastic it is):

Slytherin Pinwheel

2008-02-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

The last time we saw this blanket was all the way back in August! I don't remember if I mentioned finishing it, but I did! I decided it would make a great Christmas present for the Biggie Smalls. And he loves it! In the last month he has loved it so much it's already made its way through the wash several times. When I was visiting last weekend, it was freshly washed and being enjoyed by multiple people. First, my sis-in-law was using it as a lap warmer. I told her I could knit her one, but she's fine with sharing. Later, I found it being used as a super hero cape by Keylie.

Some random specs:
yarn: Reynolds Utopia (100% acrylic*)
needles: US #8 in multiple length circs
pattern: Pinwheel baby blanket
mods: I use Judy's magic cast on since it's less fiddly than the patterns way

*Okay, about the Reynolds Utopia. I love knitting with this acrylic! It's my favorite acrylic ever. It's so much better than Red Heart or any of the other brands you'd find at a big box craft store. I was hooked after the first use. That being said, I have only had the experience of washing it for the first time. When I visited this blankie last weekend, it was so soft! With every wash, it keeps getting better and better! If you're in the market for some good acrylic for an item that needs to be machine washed, I totally recommend Reynolds Utopia (sometimes under the name Unger Utopia, not sure why)

Yarnia!

2008-02-02T22:31:00.001-08:00

DSC_0004.JPG, originally uploaded by a-chan.

The only thing better than snow mixed in the rain is a new yarn store... granted, I didn't buy anything. Oh well. I couldn't think of a project and I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on yarn if I wasn't going to use it... wow, I've come a long way!

Anyways, I didn't have cash and you had to have cash for $10 and under.

I did get a look around and I will be going back. I'll probably get some yarn for baby sweater or something. I really liked some of the sample cones (that were for sale). I ran into David from Cubespace and Larissa was also there (although, I didn't introduce myself to her, I always think it's odd going up to some one and saying "I read your blog" I'd feel like a dork).

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. I don't know if I'm going to watch to game or not. I am going to the Knitting Bee for their annual yarn sale. Then I might make the trek to Scappoose for a little visit, but I plan on spending most of the day home alone. I bought some things to make a 7-layer dip and I have some chips... I think there's a wedding cake special on Food network that looks really good.

I finished the border on the second U of O blanket last night. Now I just have to weave in about 100 ends. It's turned out really nice and I'm hoping some of the stitches will even out in the wash.

The pinwheel is waiting to go in the wash. I'm still crossing my fingers that the border will magically stop folding over...

Tonight I'm enjoying....

2008-02-01T21:20:00.001-08:00

DSC_0005.JPG, originally uploaded by a-chan.

No, that's not my baby! That's Baby Gracie! (my friend's baby).... I just needed a picture....

Tonight I'm enjoying:
stove-top popped popcorn (a little salt and no butter!)
home made orange julius
time by myself
the baby socks I'm working on
sweat pants
the incredibles
my green fleece blanket from ikea

Tonight I'm NOT enjoying:
cold hands
cracked hands
not knowing what I want to eat
voluntarily not going to a party
this head cold!

Growing up, for special occasions (Friday nights, slumber parties, new years eve) my mom would make us orange julius' and popcorn. I think for dinner, but that could just be my bad memory. It might have been for dessert. Anyways, I fondly remember evenings playing Monopoly, canasta, and rummikub while drinking the orange julius' , crunching the popcorn... Some times as a family (my mom and my brother and I), sometimes with the cousins and sometimes with friends. Those are great memories... the kind I want to share and pass on with my kids when they're older.

Another set of memories this brings up is those evenings when it was just my mom and me when I was in high school, eating popcorn, drinking orange julius' and knitting.... while watching bad movies. I never finished any projects back then, I just enjoyed the knitting. I re-taught myself how to knit from my mom's old 4-H books and some other really 70's knitting pamphlets. She's left handed and knits funny for even a left hander, so I tried not to look at what she was doing. I believe I would work on these hiddious slippers out of really nasty left-overs. I'm sort of glad I never finished, but it would have been nice to have something tangible from those days.

One Way

2008-01-31T16:09:00.001-08:00

DSC00021, originally uploaded by a-chan.

I don't ever show my religious side on the blog, but I thought this was too funny!

On the knitting front, I finished one baby tube sock last night. Most of it was knit at Cubespace. It was my first time going and I rather enjoyed myself. I'll probably go back since it's on my way home from work (for the most part). It's a cute little space, from what I saw of it. The people seemed to to be more my age-ish and more my style than a lot of knitting groups I've been to.... (No offense to any of you, I value knitting time with anyone, no matter who you are).

No baby updates until Monday when I have my 6th ultrasound. That sounds like a lot, but they're just monitoring to be on the safe side. So far, so good.

Crappy pictures

2008-01-28T17:26:00.001-08:00

DSC00020, originally uploaded by a-chan.

You would think that having a dslr camera would mean better pictures... and it should. However, sometimes I'm taken by the moment and snap shots with my handy camera phone. I hope that explains the horridness of this picture.

What you're looking at is the left overs from the pinwheel blanket. I did run out of yarn and while on a search for a fitting yarn to use for the last 5 inches, I found two little balls of my yarn... THE yarn. Who knows why I had wound off two balls, but I did. I was able to finish the blanket with the same yarn in the same color. Interesting. I'm still perplexed over this. Now I even have a little extra, though, not enough to make anything with.

Old pinwheel

2008-01-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

I had been daydreaming about doing a garter stitch border on my Log cabin for a bind off. I thought that if I just sat down and tried it, I could figure it out. Before I got that far, I was browsing through blogs and came upon Jared's post about his The Pi Shawl (Blanket). BTW, it's gorgeous! Anyways, he did what he called an "attached (9-stitch) garter side-to-side edging." That sounded similar to what I was thinking and I commented asking for more information.... Low and behold, he found me on Ravelry (another reason I love that site!) and pointed me towards Elizabeth Zimmermann's book Knitter's Almanac, which I already have (BONUS!)

But then I decided I wanted to do an i-cord bind-off on the log cabin... I really wanted to try this new garter stitch edging, so I thought and I thought and finally I remembered this blaket:

I started it a long time ago during a baby-boom in the family, but everyone had boys (except one girl, but her daddy likes red, so her blanket is red). I've bound off of this thing at least twice and it still didn't like it.

I have to say that this edging is not something to take on lightly, it sure does take awhile. I'm doing a 10 stitch border. I should be doing an 8 stitch border since I'm going to run out of yarn.

I don't really care much for this blanket because I knit it before I corrected my twisted stitch. It's not perfect, but I'm not willing to start over on it. I should have used a size 8 for the border. I use an 8 for the main part, but my gauge was tight with the twisted stitch so I thought I could get away with the 7. It's folding onto itself, which is really no different than it rolling (like pinwheel blankets tend to do). Eh. What's one more blanket for baby banana? Since it's not a gift, I don't really care for perfection. When I run out of yarn, I'll just use a different color. I know I have a dark green in the same yarn, but I also know I have another light yellow and another light teal color that may work.

Oh, did I mention that Baby Banana is going to be a GIRL!! YAY!