Okay! I'm Going For It!

Yes, we're packing up, heading to Saskatchewan, and won't have internet access for a week. I am, however, bringing along my computer, because I have lots of plans to get stuff done while Am naps. I'm also bringing lots of knitting because hello, I knit, & so does my mom, & I love living (even temporarily) with someone who follows what I'm asking when I hold up some string & say something cryptic like "I don't know, the gauge isn't talking to me - do you think a smaller needle would give a tighter edge?". The man is most obliging in giving answers, & I do trust his "Pick A or B" answers.

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I'm also packing my little spindle & some stuff to spin, and oh yes, the toddler, the clothes, the accessories, the bedding, some food, and some toys too. I will be packing the suitcases, I should say, but the man will be stuffing it all into the jeep & the trailer.

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He's a gem, that one. I mean, I always appreciate him, but he's been absolutely fantastic while I've been all gimpy. He's my rock.

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Off to fold laundry & then pack. More sometime in August, most like!

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PS: I think I have struck upon a plan for the Zauberball, but I'm not saying anything else in case I hate it too. I don't want to jinx it. Zaubertopsecret; Zauberclassified.

Okay! I

Huzzah! My back has improved MUCHLY, and I can walk now, & sit for a while too. Why my SI joint of the left (literally, where de hipbone connect to de backbone) chose to lock up, I'm still not quite sure. But the goal is to Not Have It Happen Again.

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More goals: to get my girl from daycare, then go for a walk. I have a half row of carrots left to thin*, then we might help the man sort rocks, too; he's putting trees in the little strip between our house & the neighbours. And I've got one load of laundry left. I think I will reorder those so that Am doesn't see the carrot thinning - last year she caught us deadheading the marigolds, and no flower has since been safe. I feel kind of like baking*, but it's incredibly hot in the house, so I think I will try to quash that urge for at least a while.

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(Bran muffins with Gran's assistance. Note the flour & bran highlights in Am's hair.)
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And then there's packing; we're headed home for a week tomorrow. I don't really feel prepared, and I'm not sure why. I think this whole convalescent thing has kinked my mojo a little. I can't even brain being fogged in because of meds**; I guess I should get my list making on! What to pack, what to get done, what knitting to bring along...

(The first cherry stem hat. I can't seem to get decent photos of the darn things...)

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Having said that, I'm going to get moving. Literally.

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*To be precise, I feel like eating baking, and like letting Am help me bake. Messy, but so fun.

**No back pain meds for you, pregnant lady! No allergy meds either! Sit there & sneeze & suffer, woman!***

***Maybe a little melodramatic, bit certainly how I was feeling.

Home, Home Home

Yes, we're back from Whitehorse. I really liked it there; and it must be really cool because I was not in such fine shape. My back was out; and after yesterday's AWFUL flight from Vancouver... we're talking three extra hours sitting in the plane on the tarmac... I could hardly walk. Thankfully, I found a chiro today who helped (my regular is away), and I'm much better. Still maybe not good, but better.

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Am was an absolute gem all weekend, including flights, with the exception of one attempted bathtime. Today she was a little rocky, but I think part of that is getting home to the routine, and a bit shy on Momma snugs.

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All of that is fine and dandy; but here's the thing. I've made good progress on my swiss zaubercheeseball scarf, and I don't like it. I mean, I like the yarn, I like the colors, I like the concept; but it's a little, well, messy feeling. I think most of the mess vibe is around the holes; and I think that they might block out okay, but meh. I am just not feeling it, which surprises me a little. I guess I'm just not into cheeseballs. *sigh*

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It also males me mull "What else to zauberball?". I'm decided on wanting a scarf, on wanting it to be reversible, and it needs to be relatively simple. And nothing too heavy feeling - I've already rejected the idea of a reversible cabled scarf.

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Anybody have any other ideas?

White-horsin' Around

Hm. Well, I guess you didn;t need to read what I just typed. Have some photos:

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Am loves to help bake. This is a batch of brownies; the strange smears on the counter are from repeated dust-bustering of the dry ingredients.
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These are the toes at the lake! We almost all did pedis, although the two littlest missed out because hello, have you met my daughter? Do you think that she could sit still long enough to let paint dry? (And the other little is even, well, littler.)
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This is me & my zauberballs, which are currently becoming a swiss zaubercheeseball scarf. I think I look slightly smug, and much curvier than normal, in this photo. (You are totally welcome to make all sorts of ball jokes, btw. It's hurting my brain a little bit to stick to the high road.)

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I adore that Am's rubber boots match the slide.
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Am was blissed right out by this experience; she only looks off in the photo because she didn't understand why she should stop looking at Cookie Monster. She didn't really care about Abby Cadabby.

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And now, I'm going to go & join my girl in a nap. More on Whitehorse (which is where we are) later!

The List

So, I've been busy. In the past two weeks or so, I've:

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1) Worked part time, mostly as per regularly scheduled.

2) Been to the Stampede four (4) different days; three of them I had Am along. Highlights were: mini-donuts (more please), cows (mooo), horses (neigh), baby horsies! (inchoate squees of delight), sheep (baa-baa), pigeons (bird sign*), and Cookie Monster (COOKIE MONSTER!).

3) Successfully resisted mini-donuts on one (1) of those days. (Let's not talk about the fudge that day, okay? I like to look noble & strong & junk.)

4) Made a whopping pile of ham'n'beans for the hubby's Stampede bbq, which were totally demolished by the time Am & I got there.

5) Visited with out-of ton family.

6) Visited with more family, this time as the out-of-towners. It was a convention - a three-province, triple sibling with most spouses & almost all children, PLUS gramma visit. There were um, 6 little girls? Ages 1-14. Wicked. Totally worth the 14 hours*** round trip drive. Thank heavens AM is a happy traveller.

7) Had a doc's appointment that I've been stressing over for some time now - although almost a two hour wait in the waiting room, I did have my knitting & got good news.

8) Visited with mom & toured the Calgary area, in search of beads, yarn, a swift & ball-winder, little girl knickers, and paint.

9) Returned the destructive cat. More on that later.

10) Restrained myself from gorging myself on Rainier cherries. Instead, I parcel out a small amount of them, then try to eat them slowly, and end up stuffing the whole little bowl in my face. I've been waiting for MONTHS for those babies!

11) Stuffed an incredible amount of food into my face at the Knitting Guild's pot luck. I also picked up my knitting, and my ribbon! That I won at Stampede! *blushes*

12) Got my Ishbel to the point where I'm now working lace rows. Ooo, erg.

13) Roughed out the poodle skirt for the Best Deal Ever. More on that, too.

14) Had lunch with C_____ and found the cutest dress (on sale!) to wear to cousin M____'s wedding.

15) Picked up more netting for a crinoline. I'm also taken with Liliane, at the fabric store, because she was pleasant, she was friendly, she knew what she was doing, and! She knew that you need about 7 meters of netting for a decent crinoline! Do you know how nice it is to have someone give you a concrete answer to a question? Wowsa. Awesome. (I also got some fabric for a dress for me, & a dress for Am, and the fixin's for some yoga bolsters. Everything - except for cut notions - is 50% off.)

Today, I've taken Am to daycare, partially because I've torched my lower back (I'm blaming some tension about budgets & to-do lists & the concept of Potty-Training, in combo with my chair at the office), and partially because today I want to:

1) Finish poodle skirt & crinoline.

2) Finish books & take them to accountant.

3) Go to chiro at 2 pm.
4) Do not slouch. Do not lift heavy things.

5) Practice Kegels. (I do that every day, but still.)

6) Decide on needle size needed for Zauber Cheese Ball Scarf. Get needle, I suspect. I'm thinking it'll need to be a 3.75 or 4. This makes it to the list because I need a brain & hand friendly project, and Shawl That Counting is getting too big for my purse, and Ishbel is now only good if I'm sitting & Am is not conscious.

7) Pack for Whitehorse.

8) Continue to talk to my subconscious about my back.

9) Find the &*$*@ rooster puzzle piece, that is missing from Am's "Sounds" puzzle. Every night, when we turn of the lights, the rooster goes off.

10) Get on with it already.

11) Oh yeah, and maybe dump some pics into the computer, so you cansee some of the latest & greatest.

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*No, not THE bird. The ASL sign for bird. What do you think I'm teaching her**?

**Although, she cracked one eye open a little, the squinched it shut. Then both of them flew open, and she sat bolt upright, said what sounded awfully like "Holy F__k!", grabbed her bear, and dove under a pile of pillows. I'm trying to think of what else she could have been saying.

***I am no longer getting carsick - thank heavens. I'm a little cautious saying this, because I know it can come back, but still. For now, okay.

Yes, Well, We'll Ignore That For Now.

Whew! I've been busy. I'll post pics & descriptions & junk, but we're not done with the schmozzle yet, so instead, have an except of a Facebook conversation between myself & one niece.
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Me: "...BTW, the man wants to know if you know how early you'll have to get up & leave. It's 10am, so I figured that you could probably do that okay - if you don't stay up until "holy crap it's late o'clock" the night before. :)
Lots of love, K.

PS: Hey do you want to work on a knitting project while you're up visiting?"
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Her: "Hey Alright. Ten isn't bad at all and i don't know about knitting it kinda bores me. Love you."
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Me: "Oh! And she stabs me through the heart, not even using a knitting needle! Oh well. I'm going to teach Am & her dad at the same time - at some point in the future. Maybe you'll find something you really want to make by then. Or you'll see the charm of the boring - it's kind of soothing to do something so simple, that can add up to such an interesting end result. And I'll still love you if you don't knit, partially because that means that my stash is safer.
Ten am it is. See you soon, Love K."

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Now, this is the girl who once asked "So the Jedi's are the good guys?", as well as noting "This is boring", RIGHT BEFORE THE DEATH STAR BLEW UP. So maybe she's on the other end of the gene pool from where I'm at... I still love her, but occasionally does not make any sense to my brain.

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Off to carry on with some (really) boring projects- no, sadly, not being ironic. We're talking banking, filing, folding laundry, etc. etc....

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PS: I did lay my hands on some Zauberball - two skeins of Fuchienbeest, for a Swiss Cheese scarf. Hubba hubba. I plan on knitting it on the trip to Whitehorse this weekend. Yes! We're going to Whitehorse for the weekend!

Thursday Sticky Notes

Dear Man In A Yellow Jacket, Next To Me On The Train This Morning:

I'm sorry. I must have been the most creeptacular neighbour. Now, don't get me wrong; I am in no way apologizing for the knitting & knitting needles. You won't like me when I'm not knitting. There's no need to look at knitting needles like that.

I am sorry that my allergies are running amok, and chose to arrange with my sinuses to flashmob my nose with copius clear snot. I'm also deeply sorry that I'd ruthlessly cleaned out my purse, and after much rootling (surreptiously snorking all the while), I could only find one tissue, which was of course printed with rubber duckies. I'm not contagious, and if I could take my allergy meds, I would. But I'm knocked up, so I'm stuck at the mercy of all the tree sex* floating through the air. Also, repeated uses of the same rubber-duckie tissue is less disgusting than wiping my nose on my sleeve. Or your sleeve. Still, I'm sorry. Hope your day improved.

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Dear ____ At Work: (and ____, too.)

The reason I make little instruction manuals up is for you to use them to try & teach yourself things. I even put lots of pictures in. When you ask questions that are addressed on page 1, you in no way endear yourself to me.

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Dear Chiro -

I love you. Thanks.

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Dear Quesadilla -

I love how your cheese congeals,

I could eat you most every meal.

With double salsa & sour cream

You are such a spicy dream,

And at six bucks you're a heck of a deal.

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Dear Readers -

Sorry about the quesadilla limerick. I couldn't help myself.

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Dear LYS -

I'm trying to decide which signs from the universe will mean that I should go & get some Zauberball. If the order (with the fuchsia) is in before noon? If I get at least one knitting project done this weekend? If I win a lottery?

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Dear Universe -
If I try & hedge my bets will you turn on me?

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Dear Bedtime:

Yes, I know.

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*Disgusting, shameless, hermaphrodite hussies. They are clearly not complying with my policy of "I don't care what you do for jollies, as long as it's consensual", so I'm getting my judgements on. I don't consent. I hate tree pollen.

Oh yes, I did. I do. Erm.

(I don't write poetry often, and when I do, it tends to be haikus or truly awful limericks. Have you ever tried to find rhymes for goiter? I tell you. At any rate, in honor of Stampede...)
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Stampede Weak
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Hot torrid sin:
Bliss, delicious, cinnamon.
Mmm, mini donuts.
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(This probably should be followed up by a limerick about my expanding arse & contracting arteries, but whatevs. There's only so much inspiration around here today, and I'm still thinking fondly of those darling little donuts.)

Wheeeeeeeee!

I just finished the second cherry stem hat. And I do mean finished - I bound in all the loose ends & everything. The man says it's very nice, and I didn't even have to nudge him, first.

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And I lurve it. I think I like it better than the pink, not just because I got it finished without NEARLY as much shenanigans, but because it's a color that works better in my wardrobe, so I can admire it, an dimagine wearing it, instead of admiring it, and thinking "Maybe if I got a shirt that was....".

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Although, on reflection, it's nice to admire this one and know that that's how it is supposed to look, and not wonder if I screwed something up, and it just looks like it was supposed to be that way. (Yes, it's a fine distinction, but for pattern writing, a very important one.)

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I'll give you pics - soon - but for now, I am tired, the camera is still in the bag we took to Stampede*, I've taken all of my makeup off**, and so the combination of laziness, tiredness, and my basic "unfit for mass consumption" state mean that you'll have to wait. But I'm very pleased.

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Nighty-nooties! Dream of successful knitting projects.

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*Along with everything else, other than puppy & blankie.

**And my bra. The pants are next.

Shocking news!

Yes, the green cherry stem hat is only 9 rows away from being finished. Have I ever mentioned how much I love projects with minimal finishing?

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Interestingly enough, it's flown right by. I think I've got the lace pattern memorized, and I've learned that it is far faster to count through a whole row to check, than to get to the end, say "Oh frak", then tink it back, or to frog a couple three rows.

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I don't think I'd've had any major tinking sessions, but I was knitting on the phone, chatting with my brother. (I use the speaker function so I don't get neck cricks.)

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I told him about my exciting weekend, with the ribbon & all.

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He told me he got married on Friday.

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Really. You're thinking "Oh?" So am I! I had no idea he was even dating anyone. Mom demanded to see the paperwork before she'd believe it. I botched a row or two, understandably enough. I'd mentally sort of slotted him into the 'confirmed bachelor' role.

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They've been dating since March, and I guess A_____ said 'when it's right, you just know'. Here's wishing them luck!

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And you know what this means, right? Wedding gift shopping at the Stampede... I'm thinking matching belt buckles, a sham-wow, a euro-mop, maybe a slap-chop or a veggie-matic, and some fudge, to keeo their strength up. Now, why can't you get a euro-mop spray-hose that juliennes fries...

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PS: I think my Jenkins is small enough to class as one of the Delights - it's size falls into the range, but at 1.4 oz is on the heavy end of the spectrum. I'd like to try spinning on something less than an ounce to see how it feels; although I'm pretty committed to my love of the Turkish design. And does anyone have any bright ideas on how to spin in the car?

PPS: Spellcheck, "tink" is a word. It's a verb, for when you carefully un-knit a stitch. Or row.

Oh yes, the spindle...

I lurves my Turkish spindle. And I think it lurves me back.

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So, after I talked to another Jenkin's owner, did some spinning, did some reading on Ravelry, and did some more spinning, I am well pleased. I can spin the weight I wanted - which makes for some yummy singles, or a sturdier plied yarn, and the spindle takes one of the steps out of the process.

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How? The spindle, my friends, is a transformer.

That ball of yarn has not been re-wound; that's how it came off the spindle. (The elephant? He's on holiday.)
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First, the center part comes out. I think of it as a chopstick, and a couple quick minutes of research have yielded no proper nomenclature. So yes, first, you pull out the chopstick.

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Then you pull out one of the legs. (As this spindle has them pointed down, I think leg. I've heard arm used as well.)

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Then you pull out the last arm. And you have a lovely ball of yarn.

(Isn't it pretty? An 80/20 wool/silk blend. This was the color at the center of the ball of rovings - and not why I bought that roving at all - so I decided to play with that portion of it. Pretty nice, as Am says.)

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I am so incredibly pleased with this spindle, & with the yarn that I've spun up so far. I think I'm going to get another lighter one, so I can spin finer as well. I'm not sure if my taste in yarns has changed since I learned to spin, or if I just want to stretch my fiber further, quite literally. At any rate, don't be surprised if another spindle joins the collection. (Let's not even talk about wheels, okay? I can sneak a spindle into my budget, but not a wheel.)

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And this is a niddy-noddy.

This is about what they're used for - winding skeins, and setting the twist into yarn. That's the grey wool that I spun & plied - 153g of "Annie Dobson", a grey Romney ewe that belongs to Val. I suspect it will end up as part of mittens. It is pleasingly yarn looking - as compared to some of my very wobbly earlier attempts. (Wobbly yarn is okay - but only if that's what you're going for. I wasn't.)

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Another thing I'm pleased with - I finished the Cherry-Stem Hat. Now, not only am I pleased it's finished, I'm pleased with the finished product too.

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And so, like any sensible person who just had a project drive them nuts & question their basic abilities, I cast on another one. I'll have more pics of hats, but dudes, I'm in my pj's with no bra & no make-up & I am loathe to admit how sparse my eyebrows are these days. So you'll just have to wait!

Well, smack my gob!

I'd entered some knitting - mittens & a hat - into the Stampede. I wasn't done what I'd been intending to enter, so I was just there to represent.

And I got a ribbon! Third place in my category! (The mulitcolored tam/slouch hat - Pi'O - and the white ribbon are mine!)

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(I also got some mini-donuts, which I shared. Aren't you proud of me? I'm a little obsessive about the mini-donuts.)

What A Great Day!

Seeing as it was a holiday today, we slept in, didn't brush our hair, & I let Am accessorize her outfit herself.

(Yes, those are socks stuffed into her sandals. It made her happy, and I told her dad that she gets that from HIM, not me. He got home just before naptime.)

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The day carried on being a lot of fun with minimal screaming - partially because we didn't have anything to do (other than nap), or anyplace to go (other than the playground). Also, I had a nap. Now, I need to figure out how to respect Am's sense of self & desire to be independent with our need to get up, dressed, and fed in less than three hours.

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We were busy today - even with the nap, and the morning being spent on getting up, watering the containers, & slide-time.

I have all sorts of pics for a longer post, but I'll save those for another day. I continue to adore my Turkish delight, the cherry stem hat is grudgingly coming along, and Am likes to sweep/baton twirl.

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(And I finally got myself my boots that I've been coveting forever. I've been squirreling $ away for months, and when I finally got them, they were on sale! They've never been on sale, in the years that I've been visiting them. Thanks universe, for the high-five!)