I'm Glad We Don't Do That At Home

Yes indeed, we're back safe & sound into our condo. No tsunami, no big waves, nothing. Thank heavens.

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We woke up this morning when the tsunami alarm went off - and I tell you, I have never heard anything louder. Ever. It's only a little ways off from our balcony, and we sleep with the windows open. Scaaaaaaary. The charge of adrenalin was astonishing; we got the babies into the loft level, then turned on the tv to see what was up.

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(The klaxon. If you've ever heard an air-raid siren up close & personal, you can imagine this noise. Otherwise, just imagine a fire engine, but at least four times closer, with a steady peak of noise.)

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Oh. Five & a half hours. Don't panic, check the phone book to see if you're in a submersion zone, pack 5-7 days of food & water. Okay. Let's... get dressed, get fed, get packed - all the dry food we have, all the refilled lemonade jugs, the diapers & wipes, all the kid's stuff, all my clean underwear & one change of clothes, and two knitting projects & my newest little spindle. And a couple books. I figured that whatever happened, there would be some waiting.

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Amoryn was out on the deck coloring when the alarm went off again - poor little thing. Scared several inches off of her growth; good thing I think she's got some height to spare. Eleni was actually awake the second time the alarm went (she slept through the first one), and it scared her too. (Also scared the crap out of the grownups.) By 8:45 (after the third klaxon), we pulled out of dodge & headed uphill.

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It'd be a lot better story if it was a dark & stormy day; it would've been a lot more comfortable if it had been even a little cloudy. However, it was a beautiful sunny day, with not a cloud in sight. From our view on the side of the highway (a very wide shoulder, as close to shade as we could manage) the ocean was a truly heavenly blue; and there were no portapotties and not much breeze.

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(The view, sans tsunami.)

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And we waited. We listened to talk radio; we set up the sun tent; we broke out the water bottles, the books, the toys, the portable dvd. I did a very little bit of spinning on my new Jenkins; it's adorable. The baby slept, and ate, and slept again.

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(Aerial view of the tent. Eleni is asleep amidst the toys.)

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We moved the tent as the sun moved around. The trees were super interesting - kind of an evergreen, I think, but with really fine needles. Sadly, their interesting qualities did not encompass casting shade.

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Five hours later, we decided to go back to the condo. The all clear hadn't sounded, but there were no big waves, and the condo is on the second floor. Amoryn was getting really hot; and we were all exhausted, and the whales were playing really close to the shore. Mom & I figured if they were in that close, nothing bad was going to happen.

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And so far, nothing has. Everything has been unpacked, the man is off grilling fish (fresh tuna some local thing called, umm, something). And we are all exhausted. I almost feel like I've had a long tattoo session - that long fighting the fight-or-flight reflex is wearying. I'm going to go & curl up with my fruity drink and wait for super.

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(Tomorrow: I really am going to talk about knitting on the beach! And also, hm. Something else that I've already forgotten? Ah yes! My groovy new little spindle!)

Whale, It's Like This...

Wow, have we been busy. I've got less free time than I have on previous holidays - something to do with being the sole source of nourishment for a small human, I believe..
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Oh, and there's the beach.

We go to the beach lots. Amoyrn adores it; both the "sandy box" & the ocean. I love, love love her sunsuit - it makes the sunscreen tussle a little easier.
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This is our beach home base - a tent that coils up into a small parcel, and provides 50spf. I set Eleni under it, and she happily tries to wriggle her way to the ocean. Maybe she thinks she's a baby sea turtle? At any rate, I catch before she does much more than wriggle sand into her diaper. She naps really well by the ocean, too. (I have her white-noise sleep-sheep set to "ocean". Wish I could say it was foresight, but it's a happy accident.)
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We've had a couple firsts - Eleni sat (was tied into) a high chair for the first time. And she rolled over, but it was inspired by pure rage. Then she rolled right over again, inspired by fear as well as rage. I think the sand gave her extra 'footing'; we'll have to see when she next accomplishes that feat.
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We also went on our maiden whale watching tour. We got mugged.

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It was amazing. There was a pod of males competing for a female, and they swam around the boat for an hour or so. We were literally held up by them - we couldn't leave until they left. We were almost an hour late back from our tour, because of the whales.
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Did I mention how close they were?
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Have you ever seen a humpback? They are enormous. And graceful. And magical. And amazing. I wondered if I would find them frightening or overwhelming at all, as they're so big, but honestly, it was wonderful. (I found the seals in the harbour in Victoria far creepier.*)
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Speaking of wonderful, I think we've run out of the wonderful for the evening - the babe is fussing & the girl needs to head for bed. Next post: things I have learned about knitting on the beach!
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*Especially after I read about how a five-year old fell into the water & a seal took a couple good chomps out of her arm. They are carnivores, people. Carnivores. Hold onto your babies.

Waving, Not Drowning

Mom had a freind from home who wanted a photo of her wearing a toque. So we set up on the edge of the rock with the toque, and...

...the wave came.

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I only feel a little bad that I didn't warn her. Actually, I don't feel bad at all. I feel lovely. And now foe bed. Morning, the toddler, & the beach all come early!

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PS: If you're not already a little envious, check this out: Eleni has been sleeping through the nights. I know I risk fate by saying that, but I'm pretty sure it's that gene I inherited from my dad. Am has it too. It's for sleep. We needs it. We does it very well.

Mmmm, Maui

We are here... and it is great. I'm blogging fast, because supper is almost ready.

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This is the ocean. In case you were wondering, after some mulling, I went with "Absolutely Alice". It's very sparkly. Amoryn loves it. Actually, we're all loving it, to the extent that we're not taking tons of photos. But there are still some...
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This is the view from our kitchen - one wall of the condo is all mirrors.
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Eleni, wiggling in the shade at the beach.
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Am, in the middle of her nature-lover/nudie moment, before her dad got her sunsuit.
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Eleni, asleep in the rental stroller. (Money well spent, that.)
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The man & Am inspecting coral.
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Lest you think it's all been perfect, there have been a couple moments - here we are again in the rental stroller, in the parking lot of the ABC Store.
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And here's Eleni & I enjoying some filtered sunlight. (Back to disposables for the holiday.)
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Am is mostly too busy being busy & happy to protest having her photo taken - here she is modelling her princess dress. Rowr (her puppy) has a dress to match.

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How are the Ravelypmics going for everyone? My knitting is going well; my yarn sent me a very clear message yesterday. I'm using the plyed noro lace weight for the multi-directional diagonal scarf, and I was going to use both ends of the ball so that it would work out stripey. After four inches of work, I realized that the colors were completely in sync. "Okay yarn, I get it. Don't make things harder than they need to be." I frogged, and am now happily knitting away in a non-complicated fashion.

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More later!

It's Like, Wo...

THe weirdest thing just happened; don't think its happened before. Who knows if it'll ever happen again.

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I put both girls down for their naps, in their respective bedrooms, and all I can hear now is silence. Amazing. I'm sure they've never synchronized naptime kick-offs before.

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Am would usually be in daycare today, but she's got a nasty cold, so we're all hanging out together, in a haze of menthol & eucalyptus that seems to be helping. I've got about a million things to accompish before we go, and a healthy percentage of those are accomplished a lot more easily sans babes, so I'm off.

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PS: I am skipping out on the Ravelympics, as the combination of impending vacation + prepping for vacation + several government/small business deadlines make it unlikely. Once we're on holiday, I know I'll have knitting time, but it's beach knitting time, which is not compatible with deadline knitting. Maybe next time.

Another Cell Phone Photo

(Do I need to mention the adorable?)

Couch Knitting Projects With Baby

Eleni poached Auntie S___'s Casbah yarn. That's right sweetie, go for the cashmere.

Hello, Universe

I'd blog (and stop by the yarn store) more, but I'm quite busy trying to:

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a) Stay sane while the man is out of town - a brief trip, but exhausting for all the girls. Especially since yesterday was crazy chiro/accoutant/optical place/doctor morning. (We survived.)

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b) Get ready for Valentine's Day. I hate all the commercial crap everywhere - particularly the advertisements that suggest that I should want a diamond tennis bracelet, and that maybe I'm not really loved if I don't get one. (They irritate me almost as much as the commercials that suggest I'm a bad mother & wife if I don't use the right laundry detergent.) But I do like to try & let my loved ones know I love them (I love you guys..), and I wanted to find a couple little gifties for the girls. (I found the man's in Saskatchewan. It was on sale. At the Co-Op, which in Swift Current, is one of THE places to shop. Really.) We're going out for a buffet brunch on that Saturday too, which will be nine kinds of awesome, except that I can't have dairy, so I'll be limited to probably five kinds of awesome. I'm intensely curious to see which, if any, kinds of awesome will be a hit with Miss Amoryn.

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c) Get ready for our anniversary - see previous post.

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d) The books, the books, the T4s, the GST, ... Having been a tax accountant in a previous life is sure handy, but sets a person up for all sorts of bureaucratic scut work.

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e) Getting ready for our holiday! Eeee! We're getting close to crunch time - once I'm done d), I'm going to start the prepacking, and get crazy & try on my summer clothes to see which, if any, fit. (If none do, I'll go shopping in Maui. I loves Target.)

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f) Changing to cloth diapers. Shocker! Yes, cloth diapers. They're not the same as they used to be (hello velcro!); and apart from the fact that environmental, savings, blah, blah, they won me over because they all - every single kind - state "DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER". I've been against fabric softeners for a long time. It's just an oil you pour on your clothes; they get dirty faster, you wash them more often, your clothes & appliances wear out sooner, it's a giant conspiracy, THE END. (Bounce sheets are just as bad, people. Evil. Eeeeeevil.)

Nothing Exceeds Like Excess

I took the girls to a mall today. I've been on the hunt for something for our anniversary,and it turns out that "That Mall", the giant one just north of the city, was the closest place that had said item. (I don't think the man reads this much - but just in case, I'm being cagey.)

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It certainly is excessive, that mall. I love, love, loved the Indigo kid's area - train sets! Teacup seats! Kitchen play area! Washrooms! Starbucks! Winners is right next door, and we scored two "princess" dresses - both with the heirloom sewing details that I'm a sucker for, AND a full skirt & crinoline that is mandatory for the "princess" designation. The place is only a 15 minute drive from here, we might go & live there all the time. The nursing room was likewise excellent - ideally situated, nice & big, automatic door. I was a little surprised that there was only one handicap (or stroller/toddler/adult) accessible bathroom stall; but whatevs.

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You know what really blew me away? In April, there's going to be a Coach outlet store opening up there. Now, I realize that the first time I walk in there, I'm going to hate everything that Coach does, but for now, I get to fantasize about finding the perfect leather bag, on sale.

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(I like the Namaste bags, but they look and feel like plastic to me. Nice plastic, but still. Plastic. I like to eat steak, wear leather shoes, and use leather wallets & handbags. I feel that the vertical integration is a nice nod to my Native ancestry. True, I'm not using any kind of animal bladder to carry water, but what's technology for?)

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The decorations, however, are where the excess really comes into play. I'd post more, but I hear the hungry howl of the babe.... More later!

It Had To Happen Sometime

Yesterday, something happened that I've been expecting ever since I became a parent. It was not so good, but not so bad, either. I told the man about it later.

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Me: "You know the african violet I was thinking needs to be cut back a bit?

Him: "What did you do to it???"

Me: "Nothing!!! Actually, no, I picked it & up & put the dirt back into it."
Him: "What happened?" *crash from living room* "Oh."

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In good news, when Am & I talked about the plant, and how it fell down, she didn't try to dodge responsibility for doing it.

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In bad news, she didn't really seem to 'get' why plants shouldn't be knocked over.

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Oh well. We've got lots of plants, and most of them are far too big for her to knock over. I'm more attached to our outside plants - houseplants are just so needy, you know? I love to plant & weed & deadhead & water, but I need that winter break to keep my interest. I guess I'm a love 'em & leaf 'em kind of gal.

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In other news...

My giant shawl is giant. It's enormous. I'm going to wash it again, & chuck it into the dryer, based on some Ravelry reading I did. It's ridiculous this way.

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I'm plying some Noro Sekku (lace weight cotton/wool/nylon/silk) on my cheap-o plying spindle, and the spindle is slated for some woodshop time because it kinda sucks. I realize not everything is a Jenkins, but really. Unacceptable. Also, Noro, you have surprised me pleasantly - the yarn does have some breaks in it, but they've tried to make the colorways work & have sort of spliced the breaks, instead of the usual color-KNOT-color trick they usually pull.

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The grey(t) cardigan is almost knit to the hip - which means only hem, collar, and sleeves. I was a little freaked out because I thought I only had a couple balls left, then I realized that I had only stuck a couple into the knitting bag; the rest are all waiting in the wings. (It's been my nursing project.)

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The mobius cowl continues to creep along in it's pretty fashion; I've realized that while I am passionately committed to Addi lace points, I'm not so taken with their regular needles. Luckily, I've realized this after only two regular purchases, so I can focus on investing money in wonderful needles that I love, instead of spending on the regulars and being stuck with an expensive tool I'm not that fond of. Also, I maybe should have knit this project on a slightly larger needle to get a softer fabric; but maybe it'll block to how I want it. I'm NOT going to frog & reknit; it's just a slight preference issue, not a "problem".

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I have a theory about a dying technique that I probably won't try until we're back from Hawaii. It was inspired by a story about omelettes I once heard, and if you can guess what I'm planning, I'll give you a skein of yarn. (Okay, well, if by some freak chance I get multiple correct guesses, I'll pick a name at random.)

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The man & I went on a date last night - birthday drinks for a friend. It was great. I wore pretty shoes & everything.

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All right... the laundry is all done, but the books are still in progress! No rest for the wicked!

Jumperoo "Stills"

Although Eleni's not so still! She enjoys a bounce, followed by a contemplative pivot, then she gnaws on her puppy or duck, depending, then another bounce.

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(...and repeat...)

Shawl-y You Jest...

So, we just got back from a weekend visiting my family. (The man was gone skiing, so it was just us girls.) As always, the return entails laundry. I've been quite happy with my Shawl That Counting, so I brought it along to nurse & snuggle under. I chucked it in the wash with everything else.
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It's a superwash, so I had no fear there. I thought it was a little rude to toss it into the dryer though, so I took it to the spare bedroom dry it flat.
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And I stretched my arms to lay it out - and it kept going. It's grown to approximately twice it's previous size, length & width. It's enormous. I did my best to carefully (& evenly) make it smaller, but man. It's much bigger. I'm curious to see how it will dry.
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I'm also curious - will all garter stitch shawls do this? The other two didn't, but one was acrylic boucle (hangs head, admits that I was a newbie), and one was a silk. Is it perhaps just wool garter stitch shawls?
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Could I have quit knitting at 40,000 stitches & got a shawl that was the perfect size?

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Does anyone know the answers to these questions? I'll even take theories.