The End Is Near

Wednesday night my husband won two free tickets to a preview show of a new musical opening in London called "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (you probably remember the movie). So we thought, "Great, free tickets!" Saved us a bundle... special thanks to the St. John's Wood Women's Club for giving away their leftover tickets to teachers... as we didn't have to pay the £40/ticket price, but we still aren't at the place where we can leave the kids by themselves late at night. So those free tickets cost us £45. I'm not complaining... sure could have cost a heck of a lot more, but I see now why we tend to go out in turns and not together. But the end is near... I can almost see it. In another year or two, we'll be able to leave them at home alone and a free ticket will really be a free ticket.

Started the baby hat that will go with the baby blanket that I should be sending off to Japan any day so that it gets to B & M on time. Simple hat, so it shouldn't take too long, but then I'll need to do booties because there will be leftover yarn. Just hoping I'll get it sent before the due date in April.

Also contemplating cutting up some old t-shirts for yarn and making a bath mat for my en-suite bathroom. I donate tons of clothes to charity, but sometimes I worry that no one, no matter how destitute, should be subjected to my horrible, pit-stained t-shirts (what is it with white t-shirts and antiperspirant?). I found this wonderful blog with pictures that gives a great tutorial in how to cut the t-shirts and as you can see... the pits aren't included, so the pit-stains can go in the trash. Here's the link to Polka Dot Pineapple. As the economy worsens, I feel more and more like my mom... starting to use every little thing and save stuff because maybe it can be used later. You should see the little back of yarn I've got started with pieces only two-inches long... is that excessive?

Off to fold clothes, nurse a sick kid and figure out how to celebrate hubby's birthday tonight. Wish me luck!

The Endless Hat Saga

Feel like I've been doing nothing but knitting hats lately. There have been the usual baby hats as there have been lots of babies born recently and more on the way. But it was the Instant Glamour beret from Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits that was nearly the death of me. I've been trying to knit a little something for the women at work when it's their birthday. A couple of scarves... but how about a jaunty little beret to shake things up?! I had some yarn that I'd been given that I thought might be nice as the beret, and I paired it with a plain green yarn and another fancy green speckled and slightly fuzzy yarn. As you can see... the hat just never was big enough and I didn't have enough yarn to go back and add stitches so my daughter ended up with a beenie that you see on her head. I tried a thicker yarn for the next attempt... the purple and red combo. I tried to add rows to make the beret slightly slouchier, but once again, it didn't really work. My older daughter quickly snatched that one up. Finally, I tried again and really went to town on adding rows, but as you can see, I ran out of yarn and had to switch to an off-white. Played with the pattern a little, and liked the hat. Seemed like it might be just right. The big day came and I gave the gift and the hat just didn't look good on J. What do you say? That hat really looks horrible? Anyway, I was saved by the woman whose birthday was the next week... I'd been knitting a scarf for her, but the hat actually looked good on her so they agreed to switch. Saved!

Still working on a hat for my husband. Frogged the top about a month again and haven't gotten back to it. Need to finish as it looks like winter just isn't ready to leave London. Temps plunged again today.

I'm back? That's still to be seen

I'm not a big resolution person because I find I end up breaking them, but I did resolved at the New Year to write more on this blog. I'd gotten out of the habit. With the move and the new job, I sort of faded at the end of the year. Well it's March 7th and it seems that I've successfully broken my New Year's resolution. However, spring is on the way and that means a new beginning, so I'll try again.

Part of my problem is our computer situation. One would think with six laptops in the house I would be able to find a computer to use... but two are older than dirt, by laptop time, that is (8 years), and the one that has all my photos on it and the one that's best to use for blogging is the one that seems to overheat and shut down. Very frustrating. And it's one of the two Mac PowerBooks (also old) that have broken/damaged power cords and no battery life left so only one of them can be used at any given time. It's just a big excuse, but I do feel like I don't use my laptop half what I used to because it isn't fun at the moment. But I'm feeling like I need to get back to this so I will.

I have been knitting a lot, however. When I'm on my own computer I'll get some pictures up.

Did get a Wordle picture of my blog to share with you. It's off to the left. If you click on this you can see a bigger version. I'll update the picture every so often to see if there are changes. Wordle fascinates me...

Started a Rowan sweater called Moustiers by Marie Wallin. I actually bought the yarn as seen in the pattern (I rarely do that). Have cast on a couple of times. Just can't seem to count the stitches so see if I have the right number on. Frogged once already... bad start. I have no right to be working on this at the moment. I have so many things to finish, but that's for another post.

It's good to be back... Eric, I'm BAAAAAAACK!

M.I.A.

I have been knitting, but haven't found time to post anything on my blog for a month now. Could be that we've had a lot of visitors this past month (which we love and I'm not complaining about). Just means that I don't get much written. Currently have friends here, but they're out and about, so I thought I'd take a moment to write a few words.

So happy the election is over and happy about the results, but now I'm nervous. Just hope that things will go well... not sure they can with the current economic crisis and everything else that's being handed to Obama, but he's a smart guy, and I'm hoping that he'll surround himself with other smart people and maybe some brainpower can get us out of this mess.

Took a group of seventh graders to Canterbury a couple of days ago. Great kids and good tour... it's a rush to get through everything and still make it back at a reasonable hour, but well-worth the time. We get bused there, but my husband was saying if we took public transportation it would probably take half the time... the traffic is SO bad.

Started helping with a lunch-time knitting group at school. It's mostly fifth and sixth graders and they're new knitters. They are knitting scarves and hats for the homeless. Sewed one of the hats up and knitted another to add to the stash. Don't have a picture, but it was nothing special. Glad to be helping. Take my knitting each time, but never get to it. There are three of us helping, but we spend most of the time casting on, casting off, fixing mistakes, showing someone how to pearl, helping them switch colors... but the girls are getting better each time and it's really fun.

Have too many projects going at the moment and now I just bought Wendy Bernard's new book Custom Knits, so I have more things that I'm tempted to start. It's taking all my self control not to do it. Wish me luck.

Up, Up and Away!

Mr. Incredible wanted a cape, but we know from Edna Mode what happens to superheroes in capes, but I couldn't resist making this little superhero getup. There's sort of a little Harry Potter lightning bolt thing going on as "Super E" is a super big Harry Potter fan. There was a pattern online, but I'm too cheap to buy something like this so I just winged it. Think it turned out fine.

Our visitors left late Monday, but we had a lot of fun and Saturday and Sunday the weather couldn't have been nicer. Nothing we wanted to do seemed to be open on Sunday, but we still had a great time wandering around the parks and streets of London. Here you can see the kids writing on the wall outside Abbey Road Studios. Getting pretty filled up so should be painted over any day. Also got to see the guards' horses and had fun just walking along a wall across from the Thames on our way to see Westminster Abbey.

Knitting and Stitching Show 2008

My husband told me that a woman at work had a knitter friend in town who had gone to a knitting show on Thursday and really enjoyed it. As he was looking for things to do with his sister and her family who were visiting for the weekend, he ran across the Knitting and Stitching Show that she was talking about. I thought it sounded fun, but I wasn't seriously thinking about going. Hubby insisted as they were all going to the Tower of London, which I've seen already a few times. I'm glad he did.

The venue was lovely--Alexandra Palace--surrounded by lovely parks and with a beautiful view of the city. There was lots to do and see at the show. Three rooms filled with vendors and groups... displays and learning areas. I had a go at knitting with some of those über-sized needles and large balls of stripped wool. I almost bought a pair to make this curtain I've been thinking about, but I decided against it.

The top two pictures are of the Hyperbolic Coral Reef (my pictures aren't doing it justice), but it's a crocheted reef that looks pretty darn real and is meant to bring awareness to the plight of our coral reefs while teaching people the art of crochet. Part of it is dedicated to recycled materials as well. It was a great centerpiece to the entrance of this show.

Although I primarily knit now, I am also pretty good at sewing and enjoy other crafts as well, so it was fun to see all of these arts under one roof. I bought a few little things... some specialty yarns (bamboo, corn silk, soy). A couple balls of each to make socks just to try it out. Bought a kit for a tunic sweater thing that came with the hemp and pattern. Have always wanted to use hemp, but it isn't always easy to find in the stores that are closest to me. Bought some material (which is more beautiful and probably better quality than necessary) to make a pair of hippie bell-bottoms for my daughter's Halloween costume. Found some half-price Rowan and Debbie Bliss for half price as well. Picked them up for baby gifts. But best of all, got lots of great ideas and inspiration.

The Wash Never Ends

Really. It doesn't. I feel like I just get one load done and there's another two waiting for the washer. Then there's the heaping basket of folding that needs to be done. Let's not talk about the piles of dog hair that collect behind the door and under the stairs. Last night I finally got to the inch of dust on the book shelf. Never mind the dishes and scrubbing the lime off the shower glass, taking out the recycling, making beds, mopping the floor and vacuuming... the list goes on and on. I have a husband who does a lot of work, so I can't complain about working a full day and then coming home and working another full day with no help because that's not the case; however, it is disconcerting to have to spend so much of the weekend cleaning, especially when I'd rather be out enjoying London and hanging my family, knitting or reading... whatever. I get stressed by the mess, but I sometimes get paralyzed by it as well. Help! Hand me the sticks. I'll knit the stress away!