Prairie Knitter

Levi: Months Three, Four, and Five

2008-06-12T16:13:00.004-05:00

Check this out, dude. I'm going to help myself get caught up on these newsletters by combining THREE months in ONE letter. This is also known as cheating. Or slacking. Either would be true. My excuse is this: Month Three looked an awful lot like Month Two. Colic, check. Homebound, check. Frazzled mama nerves that she'd like to forget, check. Your father and I counted the days until your fourth month, because everything we'd read about colic says that after twelve weeks, a magic fairy sprinkles colicky babies with happy baby dust and everything is suddenly better.

At fourteen weeks, we took you back to the clinic because that stinkin' fairy never showed up. The docs continued to say it was colic or reflux or just, you know, all babies cry, deal with it. Needless to say, you now have a different pediatrician. We finally ended up switching your formula yet again, to a type that breaks down proteins so that babies that have trouble breaking them down don't have to, and lo and behold, we got our different baby! No more hours-long screaming fits, no more arched back and red face, no more prune juice and glycerin suppositories to wiggle out your seven-day bowel movement! Someone should have told us that the magic fairy dust comes in the form of hella expensive formula.

Now don't get me wrong. It's not like nothing great happened during Months Three and Four. You laughed for the first time, you started to enjoy tummy time, and you were finally weaned from using the bouncy seat as a bed. We had tried and tried just laying you in the crib, but every time you would wake and cry and we'd have to soothe you to sleep all over. So I asked your father to think of a way to make the crib vibrate like the bouncy seat, thinking maybe he'd use a neck massage pillow that we had. Instead, he built a vibrating motor out of--get this--a used hand-vac motor and a shaving cream lid, and attached it to the crib frame under the mattress. It worked perfectly. The first time we set you in it, you slept five hours! In a row! In a crib!!! Over the next three weeks, Rick's homemade motor started to die down. The vibration became weaker and weaker, until it just didn't vibrate the mattress any more. And that, Levi, is how you started sleeping in a crib. (And how I came to really respect your father's electrical skillz).

So like I said, it's not that the third and fourth months didn't have their charms, but if anyone ever asks me when colic gets better, I'm not going to get their hopes up. Twelve weeks my ass. I'm going to tell them to hold on until the fifth month. Dude, the fifth month is WHERE IT'S AT. This month you started smiling and laughing so much I really did think you were a different baby. You started rolling onto your side and trying to sit up. You shrieked with glee every time we put you in the Baby Bjorn to go for a walk. And best of all, you finally started to tolerate, and sometimes even enjoy, riding in the car. The first four months we were pretty much homebound, because even if we had been enjoying a relatively calm period, you started to scream the second you were put in the car. It didn't matter what we did or didn't do. We tried everything. And then, one day, you managed a five-minute car ride. Soon, you went on a ten-minute car ride. And by the end of the month, we made a twenty-minute trip! Watch out world--we're real adventurers, you and me! I'm just glad you decided to give the car a shot, before I was forced to scratch the eyes out of the next mother to tell me, "Well, that's strange. My baby just LOVES the car."

One of your major discoveries this month was your feet. I called your dad one day to tell him we had a new reason to be proud of our son, because after days of trying, you had finally managed to fit all five toes of your right foot in your mouth. I have never seen such happiness in my life. But one of the things I have noticed about you, Levi, is that you are not one to bask in the glory of a new accomplishment for long. As soon as you develop a new skill, you want to take it further or you give it up altogether for another one. When you found your hands, you were frustrated that you couldn't get them to your mouth. And once you got them to your mouth, you were upset that they didn't just stay there.

This reminds me of your father. Not that I ever knew him when he couldn't get his hands to his mouth, but the way he is always thinking of The. Next. Big. Thing. When he's climbing a mountain, he's planning the next trip. When he's building a piece of furniture, he's thinking of the next thing he'd like to build. And when he's rewiring a house, he's checking out a book on plumbing. It's wonderful to live with someone so interested in life and learning and doing, and as we approach your father's first Father's Day, I can easily and honestly say that I will be happy for you to inheret his passion and determination. But as your mother, I will always be torn between wanting to fix all your frustrations and understanding that you actually need some frustration so you'll learn how to fix it yourself. When you do, can you help your father build me a kitchen island?

Speaking of knitting...

2008-06-03T10:37:00.003-05:00

I just received an e-newsletter from a yarn company, in which ideas for Father's Day knitting projects were given. Which is awesome, because now I'll have Father's Day 2011 taken care of.

Thanks for all the ideas for small/easy/baby-head-friendly knitting projects, and please feel free to keep them coming. I neglected to mention that I also need to knit from stash for awhile, but I think I have some skeins that will be great for hats, and maybe some short scarves. I loved reading your suggestions, and I'll let you know what I come up with. In 2011.

In which the word "knit" is used in a blog post.

2008-05-20T12:02:00.002-05:00

Knitters, you'd better sit down to read this. Though now that I think of it, most people don't stand at their computer screens. The point is, I have a startling confession to make: I haven't picked up my knitting needles in over five months. That's almost half a year. I'm pretty sure my membership in KnitBlogLand has been revoked. At the very least, I'm probably on probation.

It's not that I've lost an interest in knitting. To the contrary, sitting down to knit sounds absolutely wonderful. It's that sitting down part that's the problem. All y'all mommy knitters out there are my new heroes, because five months in, I'm still having a hard time showering and brushing my teeth every day.

Here's what I need in a knitting project right now:

1. No cables or lace. Not that I would reject anything other than garter or stockinette, but charts are absolutely out of the question as I am still functioning on approximately half the sleep I used to get. I need to memorize the pattern fairly quickly.

2. No socks. I'm afraid I just don't have the sock love, despite the fact that they are great mindless knitting.

3. No baby blankets. I think it would take me a year or two to finish another baby blanket.

4. And because it will take me a long time to finish anything, the project should probably be small and/or relatively quick to knit.

5. I need to be able to stop quickly, in the middle of the row, without confusing myself when I come back to it. Did I mention how tired I am?

So it appears I am now the Picky Knitter. Any suggestions for this sorry excuse for a knitter? I mean, besides washcloths? Did I mention the picky-ness?

Levi: Month Two

2008-05-01T22:57:00.001-05:00

Dude. I just don’t know about these newsletters. At this rate, I won’t finish Levi: Month Four until you’re three years old. I barely have time to look at blogs anymore, let alone write for my own. If you ever need to curb an Internet addiction, Levi, try having a baby.

Well, let’s get to it. Colic. I’ve mentioned it before. Colic, more than the fact that your parents will already be older than most of your friends’ parents, is the reason you will not have any brothers or sisters. Approximately one in five babies is colicky, which means that they cry (or scream) for at least three hours (try five or six) a day at least three days a week (or seven) for weeks on end. It is very difficult to try to help a baby who is screaming for no apparent reason, especially when you love that baby deeply and don’t want to see him unhappy or hurt. And especially when you try everything you can think of (and everything everyone else can think of) to distract him from screaming several hours a day. During the colicky time, it’s hard to imagine that things will ever get better, even though that’s all people ever tell you. You tell them your child screams for seven hours a day, and they say, “It will get better,” not realizing you are so frazzled you can barely figure out how to get through the day, let alone tomorrow or several months from now. All you can see is a future of crying and desperate attempts to stop the crying. You will be the only person you know with a fifteen-year-old who has to be swaddled and rocked to sleep while listening to radio static.

The one thing that really helped us was reading The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Dr. Harvey Karp. The title is a little misleading, because nothing was going to take a baby who screams seven hours a day and turn him into a sleeping angel sitting in his carseat at Starbucks while his mother drinks coffee and chats with a friend. That aside, Dr. Karp is a freakin’ miracle worker. His program of using the “Five S’s”—swaddling, swinging, shushing, side-lying, and sucking—would turn you from a screaming meanie into either a bright-eyed, observant little baby or even better, a sleeping baby. As long as you continued to be swaddled, swung, and shushed while lying on your side and sucking a pacifier, you were one happy dude. And your parents were exhausted.

It was during this month that you decided you could no longer sleep in the crib. After all, the crib didn’t swing. So after a few sleepless days and nights, this became your new bed:

You would only sleep if you were swaddled, danced to sleep, placed in front of a stereo which was blasting radio static at levels so high your father and I could not carry on a conversation, propped up in your bouncy seat, and sucking on a pacifier, which unfortunately, would fall out of your mouth as soon as you fell into a deep sleep, necessitating a return to the whole ritual when you woke up angry. See why colic is a five letter word for birth control? I CANNOT EVER GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

The best part of our day was when you woke up in the mornings. Starting around your fifth week of life, you had a good ten or fifteen minutes every morning when we would have a little conversation, me sitting on the floor in front of you in your bouncy seat. I would say a few words like “Good morning Levi!” and you would say something like “Ooooohhh” and then we’d do it all over again before the realization hit you that yes, you would have to live through yet another day, and BAM! The colic was back and I hadn’t even had my coffee yet.

One of my favorite memories of your second month of life occurred one evening around 9pm. The phone rang at exactly the same moment that the tornado sirens started going off outside. Your father answered the phone: it was your grandmother, telling us that we were in a tornado watch and to turn on the radio. I was already tuning into KOMA and the first thing I heard Gary England say was, “It’s right at the corner of Blank and Blank (creative fake street names used to protect you from internet predators)!” Except, this being Gary England, he made this statement with about four exclamation points. And that intersection he mentioned? It was one mile from our house! Your father called out, “Get Levi and put him in the carseat and bring him to the hall closet!” I whipped you up from your bouncy seat/bed and did as I was told while Rick emptied the hall closet. When we were safe and secure in the closet, your father took the mattress from your crib (it’s not like it was being used anyway) and readied it in case we needed to cover ourselves. Then we listened to the radio for further information, only to find out that the “it” that was one mile away…was an area of rotation…that may or may not turn into a funnel…that may or may not touch down as a tornado…and that in fact, had already moved another few miles away from us.

The show was over before it began, Levi, but not for you. Nope. You were ready for a party and it took another hour to convince you that you would not be seeing your first tornado and to please, please go back to sleep. It was this experience, your first Gary England-inspired false-alarm tornado-drill that led your father to really, truly feel like a parent. His first instinct was not to go outside and look for the twister (which is what most Oklahomans do when they hear the tornado sirens), nor was it even to protect his wife. You were the first thing, the most important thing, the only thing on his mind.

Love you, kiddo. Hope you enjoyed the show.

Levi: Month One

2008-04-10T09:39:00.004-05:00

So my plan is to write you a monthly newsletter of sorts, for the first twelve months of your life. Who knows, I might continue after your first birthday, but I hate to commit myself to such a project at this time (especially since I’m already behind). Life is short and unpredictable, Levi. You should live each day as if it's your last, but be sure to save for retirement. Life is also full of mixed messages.

We brought you home from the hospital on New Year’s Eve. Wouldn’t it be nice to say that we stayed up with you until midnight and toasted the start of our first year as a family of three while fireworks exploded in the background? Instead, we were all conked out in bed, trying to recuperate from the stay in the hospital. Now I know why some of my patients were so mean to me when I woke them at 2 in the morning for vital signs. Another lesson for you, Levi: don’t go to a hospital expecting to rest.

Predictably, the cats didn’t care for you when you first came home. Loki occasionally sniffed your head, but would run and hide under the bed the second you opened your eyes or had one of those spastic newborn baby arm-flailing moments. Shiva, however, pretended not to notice you. She would walk right past you with nary a glance.

I don’t know how that was possible, since you were such a beautiful little guy. You were born with gorgeous, big, steel blue eyes—not that we got to see them very much at first. You were a good sleeper right from the start. In fact, you slept so much the first week that I often had to wake you up to eat. From your second day of life to the end of the first week, we have few pictures of you with your eyes open.

When you were a week old, however, you started to wake up more. You would often sit and watch the world around you, as long as you had a boob or a finger to suck on. We took you to Hideaway Pizza when you were seven days old, and you behaved very well, sucking on Dad’s finger the whole time and looking around at everything going on.

As I said, you were always a good sleeper. But like all newborns, you didn’t sleep all at one time. You started breastfeeding the first day of your life, and breastfed babies have to eat at least every two to two and a half hours. The key phrase being “at least.” Meaning that at most, a breastfeeding woman only gets about one to one and a half hours of sleep at a time. Meaning I was really effing tired, dude.

I planned on breastfeeding you until you were at least six months old, Levi, and you’ll never really know how sorry I am that it didn’t work out for us. I should have known what I was in for when the lactation consultant checked in with us. She stuck a finger in your mouth to test your sucking ability and proclaimed, “Wow! That’s a strong suck. I’m glad it’s your nipples and not mine!”

Things went downhill from there. After three (and a half! Don’t forget the half!) weeks of bloody nipples, engorgement, clogged milk ducts, finding out that I was only producing half the milk a newborn needs, pumping with a hospital-grade breast pump, hot packs, cold packs, appointment after appointment with the lactation consultants, fenugreek capsules, and finally thrush, I gave up the dream. By this time, I had lost all contact with any male friends and family members I once had, because every time they asked how I was doing, I said something like, “Imagine your testicles are so full of fluid that they are three times their normal size and as hard as rocks. Your scrotum has a small area of skin that is raw, bloody, and has recently started burning like fire every time it is touched. Every two hours, a baby sucks on that area for thirty minutes. THAT’S HOW I’M DOING.”

I felt so guilty for finally stopping breastfeeding. You were born into a family that likes to do stuff the old-fashioned way, Levi. We make our own soap, build our own furniture, knit our own scarves, sew our own backpacks, etc., etc. Of course we would also be committed to feeding babies the old-fashioned way. But THANK GOD for formula. You took to the bottle with glee and vigor and a voraciousness that must be baby for “Thank God someone is finally feeding me!”

Honestly, the first month of your life is kind of blur to me. A foggy-eyed blur of fatigue and uncertainty mixed with the wonderful head rush of caffeine after I stopped breastfeeding. Oh, how coffee helps. Through the blur, I remember how serenely you slept on your father’s chest. How your baby breath felt on my neck. The night that just the two of us were awake at two a.m., watching the lightning flashes during the rainstorm. The way you absorbed your surroundings with your eyes. Your first bath. Your hand curled around my finger. The way the pounds suddenly flew back on you, making both of us healthy once again.

Just in time for colic. But that’s another story.

Reason #1 Why Levi Deserves Your Pity

2008-03-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

I told my son a story today. It went like this:

"Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. They each had to build a house...um, for some reason or other. One of them built a house out of straw, one of them built a house out of...something else...and one of them built his house out of bricks. Then this big bad wolf came and he huffed and puffed and blew the first two houses down. But he couldn't destroy the last house, because it was...um...built out of bricks? And the moral to this story is that, obviously, Mom needs to bone up on her children's stories."

It's the Thought That Counts

2008-03-21T08:58:00.003-05:00

Yesterday morning, I did crunches for the first time in over a year.

And yesterday afternoon? Yesterday afternoon, I ate six spoonfuls of chocolate chip cookie dough.

A Few Observations

2008-03-16T20:55:00.006-05:00

1. My toenails are longer than my fingernails.

2. I hope Levi will learn to bite his fingernails soon, because dude, I just clipped those yesterday and they need it again.

3. It's not just his fingernails that are growing. Take a look at these cheeks. Don't they just call out to be gobbled up?
4. The other day I was asked if I could still remember "life before baby". It's true: I can no longer imagine a life with dental floss, a good night's sleep, or a hot cup of coffee.

5. Until having my own extremely fussy baby, I never really knew what colic was. I will never again react to someone saying their baby has colic with a flippant, "Oh, that must be hard." Instead I will probably start crying with them and suggest that we find a support group. And if you don't know what colic is, dear reader, let me tell you: it is a five letter word for birth control.

6. Knitting? What's that? I think this is a mommy blog now.

7. NPR? What's that? What do you mean that life is going on outside of this house and this baby?

8. Surely not...take a look at this:

9. Baby smiles are magical. They must be to make you forget that you have only had five hours of sleep in the last two days.

10. Swaddling is also cool. And by cool, I mean it's a lifesaver. Hospitals should require that new parents demonstrate a proper swaddle before they can take their babies home. Or at least, they should have required it of me.

11. If you take the "L" at the beginning of "Levi" and move it to the end, you get "Evil". I'm just sayin' is all.

12. I have to go back to work next week. I don't even want to talk about it.

Levi: Day One

2008-03-11T21:16:00.002-05:00

(Warning: This is the longest post I've ever written, and there is no knitting content whatsoever.) :)

Right now, you don't know who Heather Armstrong is, Levi, although I suspect that someday you will because I will warn you to avoid being dooced. She is one of my favorite bloggers, someone whose writings have helped me through the difficult period that has been the first three months of your life. She makes a point to write her daughter a monthly newsletter, and has inspired me to do the same for you, despite the fact that I am not a talented writer. I simply find myself wanting a record of this time in my life, and this seems like a good way to go about it.

So, with that, let’s get started on Month One (we’re currently in Month Three, by the way, but it’s taken me this long to get caught up with life enough to sit down at a computer for more than five minutes). Actually, we’re going to start with Day One, because it was a Really Big Day. At five o’clock in the morning on the last Saturday of December, I started having contractions. At least, I was pretty sure the wave-like pains in my lower back were contractions. Your father and I had gone to childbirth classes for twelve weeks to learn about natural childbirth, the labor process, and how to handle the pain of it all. Little did we know that we wouldn’t have time to put any of our new tricks to use.

I woke your father up and told him about the contractions, and the timing began. For the next several hours, Rick diligently recorded how far apart my contractions were and how long they were. And there was no pattern. I was having contractions five minutes apart, then twelve minutes apart, then eight, then ten, then five again and then eight again. They’d last thirty seconds, and then sixty seconds, and then twenty seconds, and then seventy. I ate breakfast, took a shower. We assumed this was false labor because in real labor, the contractions are supposed to gradually get closer together and longer in duration. Right?

Well, not this time, Levi. After six hours or so of this “false labor”, the contractions suddenly became very painful. Painful in a way that left me nauseous and shaking and completely incoherent. We decided Rick had better get the car ready. Because I had yet to have any contractions closer than four minutes apart, your father said, “Okay, after this next contraction, I’ll go work on the car. I’ll be back within four minutes.” But when he came back, I was already having another wave of serious PAIN. “It’s only been three minutes!” he said. He continued to juggle the tasks of getting the car ready and coaching me through the contractions. I don’t know why—like I said, I was pretty much incoherent—but I still didn’t want to go to the hospital. I kept asking to wait. Your father appeased me until I let out a slow and steady scream during one of the contractions. Finally I agreed that if you have to scream to deal with a contraction, your ass needs to get to the hospital.

We arrived at the front door right at noon, as the tornado sirens screeched their weekly practice call, and hurriedly made our way to the triage area of the maternity ward on the fourth floor, where you are supposed to fill out your paperwork before being admitted. Another laboring woman was ahead of us, sitting in the lone chair at the desk. As another contraction peaked, I yelled out, “Why don’t they have any fucking chairs in this place?” I mention this because although I have quite the sailor’s mouth at home, this is something I would never have done in public had I not been in the greatest pain of my life.

Finally, it was my turn to fill out the admissions forms, but after one look at me, the attendant said, “I’ll just have you fill these out later.” Rick and I were sent to a room, and it seemed like forever before a nurse came to check on me. Finally one arrived and requested a urine sample. I asked your father to come with me to the bathroom, where I sat on the toilet for the longest time. I was never able to pee, but all of a sudden, it happened: I had to push. The need was so strong, so intense, I thought I was going to pop you out right there, but I had learned that you could do damage to the uterus by pushing before the cervix is fully dilated, and I had no idea how far I was dilated. I said, “Oh God, I have to push!” and your father said something like, “What? Right now? Don’t do it here!”

I desperately tried not to push, but it was impossible. We made our way back to the triage room, where I was rambling/yelling, “I’m trying not to push, but I can’t stop! I have to push!” Apparently "I have to push" is the magic phrase in a maternity ward, because suddenly three more nurses appeared in the room and gloved up. One of them performed a cervical exam and exclaimed, “She has an anterior lip!” “What does that mean?” I asked, and she looked at me and said, “You’re fully dilated.” Just to make sure, I asked, “Is it alright to push?” When she confirmed that yes, I could push, I cried out, “OH THANK GOD!”

The next thing I knew, my gurney was being wheeled into our actual birthing room. Someone had paged our midwife, Pauline, and thank goodness she was already at the hospital, having just delivered another baby. She was paged at 12:28 pm and arrived soon after. Your father helped hold my legs and my back, encouraging me while Pauline guided me through the second stage of labor. I had hoped to be a strong "natural mom" like the one that I saw give birth during my nursing clinicals—she just grunted a few times and her baby was out. All that screaming only happens in the movies, I thought. I was so wrong about that, Levi. One of the things I learned about myself on this day was that one of my methods of coping with intense PAIN is intense SCREAMING. And that there is no shame in it.

Levi, I want to thank you for making sure that I didn’t have to scream for long. Later on, Pauline complimented you on being in just the perfect position for being born. You were ready, baby boy. Pauline was paged at 12:28 and you born at 12:49. It was a crazy, whirlwind experience, the most intense of my life, but I will never forget how it felt when Pauline placed you on my belly, when I looked at my beautiful baby boy for the first time. I have never been happier, felt stronger, been prouder, or felt more alive than on your birthday. I would not have changed a thing, and I’m so thankful to you and your father for all the help you gave me.

This family is a good team, kiddo. I’m so glad you’re here—and that you weren’t born in that triage toilet.

A happy new year, indeed.

2008-01-20T23:13:00.000-06:00

If I still have any readers out there, I'd like to introduce my son. Levi was born on December 29th, all 6 pounds and 9 ounces of him.

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple months. I was so busy and so pregnant that blogging didn't even enter the radar. Little did I know how busy I would be after Levi was born!

I have the next couple of months off from work. I just plan to spend a lot of time getting to know my son and adjusting to my new life. I can already tell that I won't be spending much (if any) time knitting. Last I checked, knitting requires two hands and I rarely have two hands free these days!

Hope all is well with anyone who still meanders over to this site. I've been assured and reassured by friends and family that someday life at Chez Prairie Knitter will resemble some sort of order again. When that day comes, I'm sure knitting and blogging will resume. Until then, I'm just going to enjoy the time I have with my two favorite guys.

Big and Bad

2007-11-06T10:20:00.000-06:00

The Big Bad Baby Blanket is done! I finished it last Friday, including weaving in all the yarn ends but not including blocking. I figure this blanket will get washed plenty of times in its lifetime.

The Big Bad Baby Blanket certainly turned out big. I've already discussed my inability to determine the amount of yarn this blanket takes, but I don't think I mentioned the fact that I never did a gauge check while knitting this either. It's a blanket, for crying out loud. How big can it get? Apparently, it can get really big. This is about 36" by 36", sans blocking. This will be one warm baby.

I would so love to model this blanket with an actual baby, but since mine is still baking, I decided to get some swaddle practice in with this teddy bear.

And here's the blankie chillin' with the bear and some baby books. I'm glad that train knew I could do it. I was getting a little nervous myself.

Not for the squeamish.

2007-11-01T22:25:00.000-05:00

I never knew it, but apparently, Loki is a hard-core Halloween fan. She took her costume for Franken-kitty very seriously. She went so far as to have minor surgery for it.

Too bad she was one day off and there was no one to show off to except Shiva. So now she will be spending the weekend recuperating, chewing on my knitting needles when I'm not looking, and planning next year's costume.

Thank God for Halloween Candy

2007-10-30T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Big Bad Baby Blanket is truly starting to live up to its name. I don't understand it. No matter how much I knit on it, I never finish. I haven't even made it to the last seed stitch border. I measure to see how much further to the border, and it looks like about two inches. I knit for two hours, measure again, and....I still need two inches.

The kicker is that this baby is probably going to prefer some little Sponge Bob blanket to this cashmere-blend blanket 'o luxury, anyway. I think I'll knit some hats after this.

We interrupt this blog for a big thank you.

2007-10-27T10:07:00.000-05:00

It's still crazy-land around here, what with the twelve-day work weeks and the housework and oh yeah, did I mention that someone in Illinois stole my bank card number and went on a $4,000 shopping spree?

It's the weekend now and all is better, and I just wanted to say thanks for all the kind comments on my last post. I'm glad you guys liked the pictures, and thanks so much for all the encouragement. I really have had a great time during this pregnancy, and I'm not hurt by the comments I've received about my weight so much as I am flabbergasted that people feel comfortable making such comments! But as my mom and I were saying last night, this is probably just the beginning. Some people will always let their opinions be known, whether it's that you are gaining too much weight during your pregnancy, or that you should just let that baby cry himself to sleep, or that your child should really be toilet-trained by now. Someone will always be there to criticize you.

There are so many reasons that I enjoy having a blog, but one of the biggest is the interaction it allows with other knitters, bloggers, knit-bloggers, and knit-blog-readers. I don't think I've ever encountered a negative comment left on my blog. And whether it's knitting-related or not, it's just wonderful to hear so many supportive voices.

Thanks again.

Big and Proud

2007-10-17T21:42:00.001-05:00

Despite the fact that my weight gain has been right on target throughout my pregnancy, people seem shocked by how big I'm becoming--or I guess I should say, by how big we're becoming. What's shocking to me, on the other hand, is how quick they are to tell me about it.

A sampling of recent comments made (to my face!):

"Wow! You're really big!"

"Wow! It's like you just EXPLODED overnight!"

"Oh my God, you are HUGE!"

"Andrea wasn't as big at nine months as you are now!"

"You are ALL belly."

"Wow...look at...that....."

And yesterday I finally received:

"Are you having twins?"

Um, no, I am not having twins. Are you having a momentary lapse of reason, in which you no longer recall how to engage in normal polite conversation? In which it is not acceptable to loudly proclaim how large someone is?

To you I say:

Yes, I am big. And I'm quite enjoying it, thankyouverymuch. Neener neener.

My wonderful friend Nanda graciously agreed to take portraits of Rick and me, so last weekend we drove up to Cowtown and had a blast playing in the prairie. I absolutely love the photos and can't wait to get some printed out for an album. My mom only has two or three pictures from her entire pregnancy, and I've always thought that was a shame. Maybe because my own pregnancy has been such a great experience, I don't know, but I wanted to have some nice shots celebrating this time in our lives. Thank you, Nanda, for such a fun time, and for letting us take advantage of your talent. Y'all can check out several of the shots here. And I'm sure I'll be posting more of them every so often, too--just because I want to.

Neener neener.

Willpower? What willpower?

2007-10-10T10:22:00.000-05:00

You know, part of me really thought I could stay away from Ravelry until the baby was born. Now that I'm on it, I realize it's better this way. Hopefully I can get some of it out of my system before January so the little one won't have abandonment issues.

Username: prairieknittah

Come find me!

Musings of the day

2007-10-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

Today is World Communion Sunday. In my limited church knowledge, I guess that means that more churches observe Communion today than on any other day of the year. My own church does not observe Communion every week, but it does commune once a month (and on World Communion Sunday).

My husband is going to be in charge of the monthly communions at our church next year, and needed to be at church for both services, as well as before and after the services, to see what all "being in charge" entails. As you all know by now, I am a very selfish person. My first reaction was something along the lines of "Well, what am I going to do at church for four hours while you're doing Communion?"

To which Rick wisely responded, "Can't you take your knitting?"

Thus, I was mollified into getting to church at 8am this morning, confident that I could get several rows in on the baby blanket while Rick learned his new duties. Except that once I got to church and started seeing people I hadn't seen for a couple weeks, I quickly forgot my knitting and started working on Communion myself. Tricksy church folks, making Katie forget her knitting!

Normally, I get a little peeved when expected knitting time does not come into fruition. Like most busy knitters, I don't get to knit nearly as often as I want. My knitting time is precious to me. In fact, any "alone" time is precious to me, and I am often not a very social creature at all. But today, I didn't seem to care. Communion started when I got to church, and continued as I took the bread and cup with my fellow church-goers, and as I washed the cups after service. To me, communion is a time of mindfulness, of living fully in the present, aware of my surroundings and my senses. I don't necessarily feel closer to God during this ritual. But today, as I took the bread and cup with everyone else, Communion was different. Perhaps it was because I had a hand in preparing that bread and filling those cups, or perhaps it was because my son, unbeknownst to him, was experiencing this ritual with me. Perhaps it was because my husband served me communion today, and I am so proud of Rick all the time that I get weepy if I even start to talk about it. I felt close to everyone in the pews today, and thus, closer to God.

I'm learning to enjoy rituals of the church, for the different ways they can affect you when you least expect it. Perhaps it just requires a certain willingness to give up your own desires and share your time with others...for a short while, anyway.

Oh the dilemna

2007-10-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

There's just something about October. Even if the temperatures are still in the 80's, I just feel better because it's October. Of course, I'd have been feeling good this last month too if I hadn't been too cheap to buy a pair of maternity shorts. Most of the summer, I hadn't gained enough weight to need new shorts, so I just bought some capris and some jeans. When my weight suddenly exploded in September, there was no way I was spending money on a pair of shorts that I would only wear this one month and then have to give away, when I could just....wear Rick's shorts!

Yeah. Real attractive. I guess it worked for all those weekend days spent cleaning out closets, but still. I'll be happier in my maternity jeans in cooler temperatures.

So...in case anyone out there is still interested in the mind-boggling awesomeness that is my life right now, here are the updates:

1. Rick and our friend Adam have completely finished rewiring the house. After only three years, we no longer have to run extension wires all through the house for internet access! Woohoo!

2. The baby's room is completely cleaned out.

3. The baby blanket is about 75% done.

We have soooooo many more projects left to do before January. So many that I probably won't be getting much knitting or blogging done. So wouldn't you know it? My invitation to Ravelry came in. I've been avoiding it for about a week, but I know I won't be able to resist much longer. And then? Then? The only thing that will be able to tear me away from my computer will be the start of labor.

Random Friday

2007-09-21T09:50:00.000-05:00

1. Kay! This one's for you! I'm due the first week of January.

2. Here's our newest portrait of the little boy:

3. Do you guys read Crazy Aunt Purl? I love her. And I kinda sorta followed her lead in making August a month of intense house cleaning. Except that my month spilled over into September, and while she was busy ripping up carpet and sanding wood floors, I was congratulating myself on getting laundry done from last winter.

I've been trying to get the house in order for when the baby comes. Since it's just been Rick and me for sooooo long, our house is far from baby-proof. And also, we live in a small, two bedroom house. One of those bedrooms is being converted from a home office/hobby room/media center/complete junk room into a baby room. I love our small old house in a way that is probably completely irrational, given that it has bricks falling down in the chimney and other such delights, but it is definitely a challenge keeping a small house organized. This cleaning spree has been time-consuming, to say the least, but sometimes, it's really fun to turn inward and just get your house (and your life) in order. (I think this is what they call nesting). Although it probably hasn't been very fun being married to me lately. "What do you mean you want to go to a movie on Friday night? I was planning on organizing the file cabinets on Friday night!"

Life in the fast lane, yo.

4. Last weekend, I scooped up all my yarn from all over the house, organized it by weight, and stored it underneath the bed.

Shiva helped me organize...until it all became too tiring.

5. Still waiting on yarn....do you guys think I'll finish this baby blanket before January?

6. Rick's really been into lightweight backpacking lately (as opposed to the ridiculously heavy backpacking that was required for Denali), and wanted to learn to sew his own backpacking supplies out of super lightweight materials. Always one to support my husband, I bought him sewing lessons back in July. Check out one of Rick's first projects:

It's an incredibly lightweight backpack, complete with drawstrings and adjustable shoulder straps. Isn't he talented? Thank God Rick's never shown an interest in knitting. His first project would probably an intricate lace shawl and I'd never be able to pick up needles again.

7. Actually, it's just six. That's all I got! Hopefully I'll hit my blogging groove again this fall. In the meantime, I'm just enjoying what I'm doing. Hope y'all are, too.

Third Time's the Charm

2007-09-12T10:44:00.000-05:00

So much for that promise to blog more. Sorry I lied to you, Online Yarn Store. You know what else I'm sorry about? I have knit the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch 'N Bitch (good guess, readers!) twice before, and each time I have used a different yarn than is called for in the pattern. Mainly because I hate knitting with two strands of yarn held together, but also because knitting with two strands of Koigu together? While this would be wonderful, I'm pretty sure it would also be The Most Expensive Baby Blanket Known To Man. Anyway, I have always substituted a worsted weight yarn and recalculated the total amount of yarn I would need. And each time, I have underestimated that amount. By almost half. Because I'm that good at math.

Do you think I considered this bit of history when I ordered yarn for this Big Bad Baby Blanket? That's what I'm sorry about. Because now I'm waiting on yarn from Online Yarn Store again.

So last night, I made an addendum to my Stitch 'N Bitch:

Hopefully I'll learn this time.

All better.

2007-08-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

Yarn arrived.

Project started.
Crisis averted.

I need my fix.

2007-08-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

Dear Online Yarn Store,

Hi. Do you remember me? One week ago, I ordered a large amount of yarn from you. You said I would have my crack--excuse me, my yarn--in two to three business days. It has been six. Now I know what you're thinking. That so-called knittah isn't in any rush to get her new yarn. After all, she's only knit one baby hat and one sock all summer long. And she can't even be bothered to update her blog regularly.

But, listen here, Online-Yarn-Store-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. All it took to light the fire under my knitting needles was to click "Confirm Order" on your site. I'm itching to knit, but I can't. The stash yarn just won't do. So every day that I go without my new yarn, you are assuming more of the blame for my less than productive summer. Because I'm sure that if my yarn was here, I would knit it. And, um, I'd also blog more, too. Now please release my hostage yarn.

Thank you.

Prairie Knitter

Boy Parts

2007-08-02T18:11:00.000-05:00

Per Nanda's request, here are some pictures of yesterday's ultrasound.

Can y'all see what that arrow in the second picture is pointing to? The title of that shot gives it away (and cracks me up). It's a boy!

Our little boy, who is currently nameless (oh, how I wish I liked the name Harry better), already has his first knit hat. I'm sure he will one day be inundated with OU clothing from the rest of my family, but I think this hat more accurately represents the family into which he will be born.

Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat, by Jennifer L. Jones, in Stitch 'N Bitch

Apple Motif: from Tech Guy Socks, by Alison Hansel, MagKnits February 2006

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft from the stash

I may be so computer illiterate that I had to take pictures of my ultrasound pics instead of using the scanner, but I am married to a computer geek and am just geek enough to knit an Apple logo! Poor baby doesn't stand a chance!

Is it bad to start re-reading a book less than a week after you just read it?

2007-07-25T17:29:00.000-05:00

So I have been sitting at my computer for the last half hour, trying to come up with a post-Book 7 blog post. I got nothin'. It's silly to some people, I'm sure, but this series of books means a lot to me, and nothing that I write seems to do my feelings justice (like saying the series means a lot to me). Also, I'm finding that it's quite boring to write a vague and non-spoilerific review, but once I get going and start talking about the book, I can't help but bring in spoilers. Which is completely against Katie morals. In the book of Katie morals, people who give out spoilers are right up there with Voldemort in terms of evilness.

Instead, I'll just say, "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

And also, I'll ask a question. Is it just because it's summer, or is there some pathological reason why I cannot finish a pair of socks? I haven't even started the second sock of my Fawkes socks, nor touched the first of my mom's green pair. I'm blaming it on summer. It's kind of hard to get excited about wool socks right now. Especially with this wonderful book to re-read.

A fan's gotta represent.

2007-07-20T21:09:00.000-05:00

Tonight kicks off my weekend 'o Harry. The last ever of self-indulgent weekends spent devouring the newest installment of Harry Potter, avoiding all media sources for fear of spoilers, and being elated by JKR's twists and turns (like when Snape became the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, instead of Slughorn, I absolutely did not see that coming). *sigh*

Anyway, I didn't finish my Fawkes socks in time for the book release (surprise, surprise), but I did finish the first sock. Tonight. One hour ago, to be honest (And do y'all think I'll ever get to a point where I don't have to look up Kitchener stitch to finish off the sock? Me neither). And since 1) I won't be wearing a pair of Fawkes socks to support my Order members, and 2) I refuse to wear a Gryffindor scarf in the middle of summer, I have decided to pair up my lonely Fawkes sock with one of the purple socks I knit earlier this year to make a pair of mismatched socks that Dobby would be proud of.

Hope everyone who is reading the book has a good weekend. But keep your Kleenex handy.

At least I didn't make him do lines.

2007-07-12T20:04:00.000-05:00

A snippet of our conversation after watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last night:

Rick: So when do the kids start teleporting? Oh, I guess that's in the next movie.
Katie: Um...did you just say teleporting?
Rick: Yeah. I forgot what it's called.
Katie: It's called apparating. And I have to blog this.
Rick: No! Everyone will think I'm a dork for mixing Harry Potter and Star Trek references.
Katie: No, everyone will think I'm a dork for thinking this is behavior that must be corrected.

Ah, a Happy List...

2007-07-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling rather uninspired and unmotivated today, and, as usual lately, just plain tired. There is so much to do to get our fixer-upper of a house child-friendly, but I have no energy. I am lazy anyway, and adding pregnancy fatigue and a month of rainy days is just not helping at all. So I'm making a new list today. A Happy List (capitalized and all) to help me feel better. Today the blog poses as self-help guru.

1. I took my inflatable kayak out for the first time last weekend. It's going to serve me well.
2. Harry Potter tonight! And also, all next weekend!
3. I did not get my husband an iPhone for our 'versary, but I did get him sewing lessons (and before you ask, yes, he does want to learn to sew). He starts tomorrow and will eventually get to teach me.
4. A very good friend and her very kind coworker just gave me a gazillion maternity clothes. I might not have to buy any at all! (which means more yarn money, yo)
5. My cats are really cute. Even when they fall asleep on top of the freshly laundered towels, and I have to decide whether to re-wash them or dry myself off with cat hair.
6. Someday, I too will be on Ravelry. I can deal with the jealousy until then.
7. I haven't thrown up in over a week. Can I get an amen?

Well, that's all I can come up with right now, but I didn't expect much more. I'm much better at focusing on the negatives, on all the stuff piling up on me. My actual To Do list is at least four pages long now. So as a first step towards positive thinking, this list will suffice. Now I just need to visit my site every so often to make myself feel better. And maybe do some knitting. Wait--did I just inadvertently add a couple things to my To Do list?

Today is also George Bush's birthday, but let's forget that, shall we?

2007-07-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

Today is the tenth anniversary of Rick's and my first date. Ten years ago today, we attended an outdoor ballet at the University of Oklahoma followed by an hours-long coffee session at The Kettle. (Oh Kettle, how I miss you.) Rick didn't so much as try to kiss me goodnight, and because I had not yet encountered a gentleman at this point in my life, I figured that was that. But Rick called for a second date, during which I practically jumped him. Turned out he was interested after all. On our third date, I drunkenly belted out "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," from The Sound of Music while hopping from bench to bench in a gazebo and quickly fell from one of said gazebo benches, busting my chin open on the concrete floor. Classy, no?

Maybe it was at that point that Rick knew he'd finally found the dork for him. I don't know, but I lose track of our dates after that. We were simply together. Thanks for the last ten years, Rickus. And because I love you so much, I'm going to post this picture of you for the Internet:

This is what our Prairie Climber looked like after almost a month on Denali. I didn't recognize him when he picked me up at the train station in Talkeetna--of course, he was also driving the van of a local hotel, which was completely unexpected, so that may have had something to do with it. It didn't take Rick long after this picture was taken to buy a razor and some shaving cream. I guess he didn't like the mountain man look?

My last two days in Alaska with my husband were wonderful. I got to hang out with most of Rick's fellow climbers, listening to their adventures over the past month. They had an incredible time, and I think Rick really made some life-long friends from that climb. All the climbers wished me congrats on the pregnancy, and apparently, Rick had even been consulting them on baby names! Unfortunately, I couldn't have any post-trip drinks to celebrate with everyone, but Rick let everyone know he was "drinking for two."

As you can probably tell, I could go on and on about my trip to Alaska, but I don't really have many more pictures to show you (due to the low battery after my kayaking trip and all). I'll show you one more, just so's you know knitting did occur on this trip:

What a pretty place to knit. And happy anniversary, Rickus!

Katie Does Fox Island

2007-06-30T09:47:00.000-05:00

After a couple of days in Anchorage, my real Alaskan adventure began. And okay, maybe it was only a little adventurous, and maybe it only lasted a day, but what a day! This was the day I planned my entire trip around.

Another early morning saw me leaving the 26th St. Hostel for the Anchorage train station. I took the Coastal Classic Alaska Railroad train to Seward, Alaska. This is a four-hour train ride, and if you rent a car when you're in Alaska, you can take the Seward Highway, but I would definitely recommend the train. It's a prettier route, and you won't have to concentrate on your driving. Instead, you can sit back and watch the scenery of the Kenai Peninsula.

The tracks of the Alaska Railroad roll past three different glaciers, a glacial lake filled with icebergs, and countless mountains and waterfalls. I saw dall sheep and a moose. At one S-shaped turn in the tracks, in front of a glacier, we saw a grizzly bear. The conductor called out over the intercom, "Grizzly, 3 o'clock!" Every passenger ran to the right side of the bus to look out the windows. And there it was, running in the pasture. The train actually came to a stop so we could watch him for a few minutes. He finally disappeared into the trees, and we resumed our ride. I may have teared up a little, because 1) I'm a big softy who cries at Kodak commercials, and 2) Hello! I was watching a grizzly bear running into the woods in front of a glacier. Amazing!

The train pulled into Seward at 11:15, and I hitched a ride with some other cruise-ship passengers to the Seward Small-Boat Harbor for my "cruise" (read as: small boat with about twenty passengers) to Fox Island, a small island in Resurrection Bay, where I would meet up with my kayaking guide for a three-hour tour (hee, hee, three-hour tour...) of the shoreline, before heading back to the town of Seward.

For me, there is nothing quite like sea kayaking. I could never fully describe how wonderful it is, quietly sitting in your kayak watching the land go by, the only sound in your ears that of waves crashing or the dip of your paddle in the water. Getting into a zone with your paddling is kind of like the zone you get into while knitting. This is like meditation for me. And luckily for me, only two of my fellow passengers were staying for the kayaking trip, so it was a nice small group of kayakers. If you enjoy kayaking or wildlife watching, you should definitely take this trip some time in your life. Fox Island is beautiful and remote. And as far as the wildlife, I saw mountain goats, five bald eagles (including two in a nest), sea lions, a seal that kept following our kayak, two humpback whales, puffins, and many other types of sea birds. I love you, Alaska!

Yet again I don't have pictures of wildlife to show you, though this has less to do with my fear of looking like a tourist, and more to do with an experience I had in Hawaii. Rick and I went on a whale watching tour there, and we did see a lot of whales, but I spent so much time trying to get The Perfect Whale Picture, that I really missed out on a lot of the action--and all my pictures were crap anyway. So when I saw wildlife on this trip, I decided to just enjoy it and soak it in to my personal memory, instead of my camera's.

I'm so glad I did.

Katie Does Anchorage

2007-06-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

All right! My vacation photos are finally loaded on this here computer, ready to be posted in the Blogosphere. There are only two major disclaimers that I need to, um, disclaim:

1) Though I have absolutely no problem taking pictures of yarn and finished objects in my yard or on jungle gyms, I am afraid of looking like a tourist when I am touring. I therefore miss out on a lot of good pictures because I don't want to join the group of people who have their cameras out. Go figure.

2) I forgot to turn my camera off after a couple of shots taken during my sea kayaking trip, and ran my battery way, way low before realizing it. And of course, I did not pack my battery charger in the interest of saving weight in my backpack. Note to self for next backpacking trip: instead of carrying three heavy books, take the damn camera charger.

I arrived in Anchorage on Sunday, after a grueling fifteen hours of flying and layovers. I'm usually a big fan of booking the cheapest flight possible (cheap is how I travel), but this was ridiculous. My flight took me to Atlanta, Georgia before heading to Anchorage. My flight to Anchorage passed over Kansas six hours after I began traveling Sunday morning. Sheesh!

So I was pretty tired upon my arrival. I snapped this picture of my hostel (26th Street International Hostel), checked in, and went to bed. Are y'all familiar with hostels? I know some people aren't, like my cute mom, who thought when I said hostel that I meant hostile, and asked me if it was really safe to stay at a place called a hoss-tile? My definition of a hostel is: a place where you can stay in a bunk bed in a room with several other travelers for cheap, usually has a communal kitchen, and if you are in an interesting location, many foreigners drinking beer until all hours. Did I mention that hostels are cheap, and so am I?

When I woke from my hostel early, early, early Monday morning (it is so hard to sleep when the sun doesn't set), I set out for downtown Anchorage. It's really a pretty little city. From downtown you can see the ocean and the mountains. Sounds nice, huh? Want to see the only picture I took of downtown Anchorage (see Disclaimer #1):

There are lots of salmon sculptures downtown, and this one perched in front of the start of the Planet Walk (I love Planet Walks)...was my favorite. What can I say? You know how the Yarn Harlot took a picture of the glacial ice? Well, I saw that same glacial ice, and yet I TOOK A PICTURE OF A FISH SCULPTURE.

Later that day, I discovered that Anchorage, like any self-respecting city (ahem, OKC?), has an REI! An REI in front of mountains! I spent a nice hour here drooling over backpacks and canoes. And in the same shopping center as REI was Tidal Wave Books, where I saw the Yarn Harlot! It's always so wonderful to meet up with knitters and listen to Stephanie talk shop! The bookstore was amazed at how many of us came to the event. One of the staff told me they had a Nobel Prize winner and he didn't draw nearly as many attendees. I met a fellow blogger named Glenda, who lives in Girdwood, Alaska, the lucky girl! Glenda designed her own yoga mat bag, how awesome is that! Do you think I got a picture of her? If you answered No, you would be right.

I just hope Stephanie wasn't too weirded out by this sweaty, traveling knitter, who made jokes about stalking her all the way to Alaska and then practically stabbed her in the throat with her own knitting needles while taking a photo op.

To be continued tomorrow....with better, more ALASKAN pictures, I promise!

At least he remembered?

2007-06-28T19:25:00.000-05:00

In an email to Nanda earlier this week, I expressed my husband's lust for the new Apple iPhone. He only mentioned it once, but I know how he is about all things Apple. I quickly squashed his zeal with a well-played bit of name-calling.

"Consumer!" I yelled. But I told Nanda he would probably start dropping Apple-flavored hints closer to Christmas time.

Ha! He didn't even last until iPhone's release date. Over dinner tonight, he hit me with this: "If you're thinking of what to get me for the tenth anniversary of our first date next week, the iPhone comes out tomorrow."

Isn't he romantic? :)

You dropped a bomb on me, baby.

2007-06-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

Hello, everyone! I've been back from vacation for a week now, but have unfortunately not had time to blog yet...or email...or call...or, um, yeah. It's been a week. But really, I don't feel like talking about the flea infestation we came back to, or the kitty cats that wouldn't look at us after five days in the kennel, or the jury duty I had to perform right after I got back from vacation. What I'd really like is a bit of time to upload all my pictures and talk about ALASKA!

Alas, now that I'm back in my recently fumigated house, I must do things such as unpacking and laundry and feeding cats lots of treats to make them like me again. So since this post has no interesting Alaska pictures, I thought I'd go ahead and make an announcement I've been sitting on for awhile. Because in about six months, there's going to be an addition to the Prairie Knitter/Prairie Climber family, and no, we're not taking in another stray cat.

I'm pregnant! Right at twelve weeks, as a matter of fact. And since the nausea STILL isn't gone, ya'll are in for a lot of whining and general belly-aching about the whole process. You lucky readers, you! I always thought that if I got pregnant, I would feel good and natural and, I don't know, I guess I thought I'd be some kind of granola, nature mother type who felt healthy and strong. Instead, I'm nauseous every day and more tired than I've ever been in my life. Just wait until I can't sleep at night and can't go ten minutes without peeing. Y'all will really be in for it then!

Hopefully I'll start getting some baby knitting in to distract you (and me) from my own yuckiness. Speaking of yuckiness, did anyone see my picture on the Yarn Harlot's site? I promise to talk about the event in a future post, but dudes! Was I ever gross in that picture! In my defense, I'd walked about eight miles over Anchorage that day and was pretty tired (and oily and pregnant, yada yada). I guess I should have taken a shower before the book signing!

I hope everyone's been having a wonderful month, and I will try to get some Alaska pictures up soon. And oh yeah---Rick totally kicked ass on Denali! The mountain allowed his team to summit on June 12th, and I'm super proud of him. I like being married to a man that follows his heart and shoots for his dreams. I would have been proud of him even if he hadn't made the summit, but I always knew he could do it.

Well, back to laundry with me then. Woohoo!

Because twelve hour flights demand a good knit.

2007-06-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

I'm heading out for my own Alaskan adventure this Sunday and, among other preparations, I have been trying to figure out what knitting to take with me. I've been working on a pair of socks, but frankly, I'm rather uninspired by them at the moment.

The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot, and I love the color. I even like the bare bones, 3x1 rib pattern. I'm afraid the reason it's not working for me right now is that I am such a selfish individual. You see, the sock does not fit my freakishly narrow foot. It does, however, fit my mom's cute, normal size foot, so the pair will become a gift for her. But unless it's a hat for my husband who is going to -30 degree weather in a week, my gift knits move as slow as glaciers. Sorry, Mom!

So I bought some new sock yarn today. I knew that I wanted to knit socks, so I can take a small, compact set of needles with me on the plane. And then I saw a colorway of Cherry Tree Hill at Gourmet Yarn today that just lit my fire. It screams Harry Potter with its rich reds and oranges and golds. Or rather it screams Fawkes the Phoenix, and because I'm a nerd, a nerd who is still mourning Albus Dumbledore, I decided I needed my very own Fawkes socks for the upcoming release of Book 7.

Only once I got home did I realize that my new yarn also coordinates with my backpack and stuff sacks.

My pack is almost full already and I haven't finished packing yet. Time permitting, I plan on visiting a couple of yarn shops in Anchorage and have wondered where I'd be able to make room for my purchases. While I was taking pictures, it came to me!

Why not take advantage of all the straps on this here backpack? Good thing Rick's already in Alaska--he'd be rolling his eyes at my color-coordinated, knitterly ingenuity.

The quickest knitting I've ever done.

2007-05-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

Rick left for Alaska last week, and his team started their climb of Mt. McKinley on Friday. He may or may not regain cell phone reception in about a week, or I might not hear from him until I'm actually in Alaska myself. And yes, I'm on the verge of crazy. The longest I've gone without hearing from Rick on one of his mountaineering trips has been two days.

But anyway, this was supposed to be a post about knitting. I swear! About a week before Rick left, he asked if I could knit a hat for his trip. You see, Rick's head is kind of on the small side (small like he usually buys boys' hats instead of men's hats) and the hat he had purchased for the climb had extra material that bunched up at the top under his climbing helmet.

That boy is so lucky he married a knitter. After the predictable, "What? You're telling me this NOW?", I found a suitable pattern, made a trip to Gourmet Yarn, and Rick had his hat within forty-eight hours.

Pattern: free pattern at Kis*Knit

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino

Needles: Knit Picks Options size 6, used as circular and magic loop

Modifications: Though Rick's head is small, I needed to add two more repeats of 10 stitches for a total of 100 stitches cast on. It fits under his helmet perfectly, as you can see in the requisite "I am a mountain climber" shot (which by the way, should totally be submitted to Petzl as an advertisment for helmets, don't you think?).

Random MeMe Time

2007-05-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Emma to divulge seven random facts about myself. Woohoo! A free post idea! Just what a lazy bloggah needs!

And since you're supposed to post the rules of the meme, let me get started. The first rule about Fight Club is....okay, ha ha. Here are the actual rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Let's get started, shall we?

1. I was a high school valedictorian. My GPA after my freshman year of college: ONE POINT SEVEN.

2. I like girly drinks. Cape Cods and Mudslides and such. But I'll drink beer if I'm already drunk (which may help explain number one up there).

3. I can't seem to remember to wash my belly-button when I shower. So if you ever meet me in person, chances are my belly-button will be at least slightly dirty.

4. If you've read this blog for awhile, you may remember that a year and a half ago, I stopped being a vegetarian and started eating fish. Well, I forgot to tell y'all, but I couldn't hack it as a carnivore. I went veggie again after only a few months.

5. I got my first (all right, my only) tattoo when I was seventeen. It was in a housing addition between Mustang and Yukon, Oklahoma. Totally illegal. And my mom was with me.

6. I can say, "You're a little shit," in Croatian.

7. When I asked Rick to think of a random fact about me, the first thing he said was, "Your boobs didn't start growing until you were in your twenties." Which, yeah. Is pretty much true. THANKS, HONEY.

So there you have it! Now for my tag list....Well, it appears that just about every knitblogger I read has done this meme, so I think I'm going to break the rules and just tag one blogger. Nanda, go forth and be random.

Kitty Stuff

2007-05-15T06:18:00.000-05:00

My proclamation of Loki's love for her new kitty bed may have been premature. She likes the kitty pi. But not so much for sleeping or for proper sitting. Nope. The kitty pi bed has become more of a wadded-up kitty pillow.

I would knit Shiva her own kitty bed, but unfortunately, she is distrustful of anything that is remotely soft. Don't set her on a blanket or a pillow, or for Pete's sake, that terribly plush and expensive store-bought kitty bed. Shiva prefers a good, sturdy box to sleep in.

I think I will try to block the kitty pi a little more extensively and see if that helps it keep its shape a little better. Not that there's anything wrong with knitting kitty pillows...

Word to the Muthas

2007-05-13T08:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there! I read a lot of blogs by women with children, and everyone seems to do such a good job at parenting. I just think that's awesome. I don't know how y'all do it (because, hi! My cats play with Exacto knives!), but good job, ladies! Enjoy your day.

If you want to destroy my sweater...

2007-05-09T09:38:00.000-05:00

Do y'all remember that last year, I tried to knit a vest out of leftover yarn. In fact, the pattern was the Leftovers Vest from Knitty. When I was about three-quarters of the way done with it, I tried the vest on, only to find that it was at least fourteen times too big for me. There was no problem with the pattern whatsoever--the error consisted of my inability to accurately judge my own size. Have you ever seen where they give anorexic girls a marker and have them draw a life-size picture of themselves on paper, of how they see themselves, and the picture is about the size of an elephant? Apparently, I am like these girls, but without the anorexia part.

Anyway. I never frogged that partially knit vest. Couldn't bring myself to do it, I hate frogging so much. Two weeks ago, the vest still looked like this:

And then I took the plunge. I turned the vest into this:

Lots of kinky, kinky yarn that took over my dining room table, until I dunked all those individual strands into water and allowed them to dry like this:

Then I wound the strands into many baby balls of yarn, which were not photographed because what I thought would be an afternoon project took THREE DAYS and I was no longer in the mood to photo-journalize. From this stash, I decided to make the kitties a Kitty Pi, that fabulous pattern that was so popular a couple years ago (and why is that so many knitters have cats?). Lots of knitting and spit-splicing later, voila!

Before felting, modeling on my husband's table saw:

After felting, on my mom's kitchen table:
Pattern: Kitty Pi by Wendy Johnson
Needles: Knit Picks Options, US size 11, 24" cable, used to magic loop and as regular circular needles
Yarn: Cascade 220, double stranded
Comments: This was my first felting project. It was so scary putting my precious knitting into the washing machine! To agitate! I imagined the kitty bed coming out the size of a postage stamp. As it is, it took me three cycles on heavy, and there is still more stitch definition than I wanted. Rick built a mold to dry it/shape it, because I was too cheap to buy the Tupperware pie carrier that's suggested in the pattern (Hello, that's yarn money. Can I get a witness?)

Rick is awesome. And also, now you see why my knitting was anywhere near a table saw. And at least one kitty has taken to the bed so far. My Loki sure loves her some pi!

Blogging Doldrums

2007-04-30T10:36:00.000-05:00

A lot of knit-bloggers have been declaring that they have the knitting doldrums lately. Not me. I've been spending a lot of time knitting. With a little bit of dreaming, scheming, and buying of yarn thrown in, too. I just haven't felt like blogging. Part of it is that I'm just tired. My work schedule has been so crazy for so long now, I'm having difficulty remembering what it used to be like to work normal hours. Free time? Never heard of ya.

Another problem is that I'm ready for a new blog look. Unfortunately for me (and my readers. Sorry, guys), I did not become all computer savvy when I signed up for a blog. I still don't know how to set up links or add buttons over in the sidebar (is that right? sidebar?). I depend on Rick for most technical things, computer-fixing, lawn-mowing, and recycling-sorting included. All right, maybe those last two aren't technical, but I really don't like to do them. Rick has been rather busy for the last year or so, though, what with training to climb Mt. McKinley and all, and hasn't been able to keep up with my computer demands. (And you might not want to look at our lawn, either).

After the climb, Rick has promised that he will be all mine for as long as I need. And by all mine, he means, "Present me with your list of things you need done around the house, and I will do them." I plan on bringing that list with me to Alaska so I can present it to him on the plane ride home. Nothing wrong with using that trip efficiently and planning his course of action, right? Although he'd probably rather use that time to scheme and dream about new mountaineering trips, just like I'm always plotting my next knitting project as I finish up the one at hand.

I think of myself as a feminist. I have no doubt that women can do any job as well as men. And the over-analytical side of me (all right, you caught me, I'm 100% over-analytical) has a problem with the way gender roles play out even in my own feminist household. Like the way Rick mows the lawn and I do the laundry. (But definitely not the way that Rick does the cooking and I manage the checkbook--I like that.) The honest truth is that I'm just not into computers. I don't want to design web sites, I don't want to learn Photoshop, and for your own sake, don't even get me started on MySpace.

So I've decided I'm going to stop beating myself up over being computer illiterate. I'm adding "Update Katie's Blog" to the Rick List. Maybe I'm a lazy feminist. But either way, y'all should have a prettier blog to look at sometime in July or so.

Mission Accomplished

2007-04-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

The last finished object I have to show (for awhile) is my Forbes Forest scarf. Yup, I finished it right in time for summer. That's how I roll, I'm afraid. This winter I'll probably decide to knit a cotton tank top.

But I know I'll get a lot of use out of this scarf next winter. I absolutely love it, and I plan to knit another one soon in a seafoam or celery or other light green yarn for my mom (she has the prettiest green eyes). I would definitely recommend knitting this pattern in Rowan Cashsoft. After a not very intensive blocking, the scarf tries to curl only a little bit. And the yarn is so soft, I didn't mind wearing it in 80 degree weather for picture-taking.

And also, Forbes Forest is just fun to knit. After a few repeats, the pattern is easy to remember, but like most cabled patterns, still interesting. And on this project, I finally learned to cable without a cable needle. Like I needed a reason to like cables more--no wonder I want to knit this pattern again already.

Now I finally have a pink scarf, and can scratch another New Year's Resolution off the list.

Cat and Mouse

2007-04-19T07:59:00.000-05:00

I decided to use up a little bit of leftover cotton dishcloth yarn the other day. I cast on for the mouse part of the Catwarming pattern from Stitch 'N Bitch Nation, and was finished in three hours!

Of course, Loki had partially ripped one ear off before I could take a picture of it in all of its just-finished glory.

Shiva likes it, too.

This was a fun, quick pattern, but next time I won't use cotton yarn. It's too unforgiving with my wonky increases. Not that the kitties mind, of course.

Happy Feet

2007-04-18T12:37:00.000-05:00

Ack! Has it really been over two weeks since I last blogged? I guess it has been. I won't bore you with my whining about HOW MUCH I AM WORKING LATELY. Instead, just know that in my spare time, I have been knitting my little heart out. I've also been knitting during non-spare time, which explains why I have not studied for my upcoming Geography test, nor tackled Mt. Laundry or Mt. Cat Hair (i.e., the whole house).

And because I would rather knit than take pictures of knitting, the only thing I can show you just yet is this:

Yup. I finished my second pair of socks. They are just a generic stockinette sock, but they are my second pair, knit without mistakes so I can actually wear them, and soft, soft, soft! Lovin' the Cherry Tree Hill, I am.

I should have more pictures soon, because not only am I working a little less this week, but I have run out of projects on needles (gasp!). Breathe, dear readers. I have a plan to remedy this soon.

A promise is a promise (and makes a very long post).

2007-04-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

Y'all have a moment? I've finally uploaded pictures, so my 2007 Finished Object List will no longer read like this:

1. washcloth

2. washcloth

3. washcloth

4. really bright washcloth

Today we add...

5. scarf:

(Terrible picture of me, but you can see my knitting poster in the background)

Pattern: No pattern. Just a mindless seed stitch scarf, perfect for knitting on after working twelve hour days twelve days in a row (but who's counting?).

Yarn: Approximately one and one half skeins of Malabrigo in colorway Azul Profundo. I normally don't seem to have any blue yarn (which is one of the reasons, besides pure laziness, that I haven't joined Knit Blue), but I was enamored with this colorway. After Rick saw this knitted up, I think I know why. He said it reminded him of our Oklahoma sky right before a storm, and y'all know how I feel about Oklahoma weather. Bring it on!

Comments: Oops. I think I've been commenting in the previous sections, but oh well! This yarn is fantasticly soft with beautiful colors, and I can't wait to knit with it again. Here's one more picture.

Today we also add...

6. SOCKS!!!!!

Before we get to the pictures, I must explain why I said that I only sorta-kinda finished my first pair of socks. After learning how to turn a heel at my second sock class, I decided I didn't need the third class to finish up the socks. Which was probably not the wisest choice, because I read my pattern incorrectly and managed to knit my decrease rows on the top of the sock. So when I wear the socks with the heels in the right place, I have painful bumps on the top and bottom of my toes (left sock):

And when I wear my socks with the toes in the right place:
The heel ends up on the side, making Sock #1 look like some kind of specialized goiter cozy.
At least I learned my mistake before finishing Sock #2, which came out reasonably well.

I really meant to go back and correct Sock #1, but then this happened:

Yup! I bought my first skein of sock yarn. I am officially converted.

Addict.

2007-03-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

Do you ever just feel ridiculous about your passion for knitting? I often feel this way around non-knitters. I think they just can't understand why I'd want to learn to knit socks when I can buy six pairs for the price of that sock yarn. Or why I am physically unable to hang out watching a football game without some needles in my hands. Or why I think knitting is F-U-N fun. "It's so fun!" I tell them, and they don't believe me. You just have to be a knitter to understand.

But do you ever feel ridiculous around other knitters? Like maybe you're a little too gung ho about the sport? Last night, while I was knitting during a break during class, a girl in my class sat near me and mentioned that she knits, too. This girl, I might add, is cute and casual and just cooly dropped a line about knitting.

How did I respond? By acting like she is my new knitting best friend, of course! You'd think I don't have a blog for ranting and raving about knitting, because I could not stop talking about it. I asked her what she likes to knit, where she shops for yarn, what kind of yarn she likes, if she has used any patterns from Knitty, if she prefers circulars or DPN's, and on and on and on I went. She patiently answered all my questions, so I kept going. I hope the girl isn't too afraid of her new stalker knitter classmate to come back to class.

I mean, it's not like I'm travelling all the way to Alaska to see the Yarn Harlot or anything. :)

I managed a second inappropriate mention of knitting again today. Central Oklahoma had some serious weather for awhile this afternoon (Cue Gary England and Mike Morgan for the battle of the weather stations!) While I was visiting a patient at one of the local assisted living facilities, an announcement was made over the intercom to bring all the residents to the designated tornado drill locations IMMEDIATELY! Because THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I rushed my patient to what must have been the safest of all the hallways in the building, and attempted to find out what was going on, but nobody knew for sure. All they knew was that the building was locked up per protocol and I was not allowed to leave. So I called Rick.

"What's going on? I'm locked in the assisted living and they won't let me out."

"Well, that's a good thing, because there's a tornado four miles away from you."

"Shit." I said. "I should have brought my knitting in from the car."

That comment received more than a few puzzled looks from residents and staff alike, who were all hoping to learn more about the situation from the lady with the cell phone. Instead, they discovered that the home health nurse is driven to swearing at the mere thought of being separated from her knitting during a TORNADO! Whoops!

(And for reals, y'all. I'll post knitting pictures up next time I post. No more photo-less posts when there are finished objects laying around. Happy weekend and carry your knitting with you in case of tornadoes.)

Let's celebrate with sleep! By eight o'clock maybe? Please?

2007-03-27T06:11:00.000-05:00

I finally thought of two more things to be happy about to round out my list of ten:

9) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be 784 pages!
10) And even more importantly, today is my seventh wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Rick! Hopefully next year, we won't greet the morning of our anniversary with exclamations of how much it sucks being awake. :)

Just a quickie...

2007-03-19T11:06:00.000-05:00

Just a quickie to let everyone know I'm still alive, and also to perk myself up a little. I've been working twelve- to fourteen-hour days every day for a couple of weeks and have been a little tired and cranky (Read: bitchy, ready to snap, and carrying sharp-ass knitting needles. )

So here are some of the good things that have happened in the last two weeks:

1. I made my reservations for sea kayaking in Resurrection Bay off the southern coast of Alaska. (Come on, June!)
2. I convinced my husband that the Knit Picks Options needle set is indeed a very romantic anniversary present.
3. The Bradford pear and redbud trees are absolutely gorgeous and make me so happy as I drive around all day.
4. It's been warm enough to get outside and go for long walks.
5. I finished my blue Malabrigo scarf.
6. I finished my first pair of socks...sort of...but I'm counting them as done, dang it!
7. My cats are the cutest. kitties. evah.
8. My mom made us a lasagne last night.

Hmm. I wanted a list of ten things, but got stuck at eight. Leave it to me to be unable to think once food is mentioned. Mmm...lasagne....

Will hopefully have pictures of FO's soon.

Squee!

2007-03-06T08:37:00.000-06:00

I'm afraid I don't have much knitting to report on. I've been working a lot of extra hours the last couple weeks, and will continue to do so for another couple. Normally, I don't like working long hours (I much prefer my time with knitting needles over my time with medical needles). But I don't mind the extra work right now because I need the extra money: I'm going to Alaska in June!

I am so, so, so excited about this trip. I'll be meeting Rick in Talkeetna when he returns from Mt. McKinley, but before that I'll have my own four-day hiking/biking/kayaking adventure.

And there's even more good news: I'll be in Anchorage on the exact date that the Yarn Harlot will be there on tour! So I guess I'll get to attend a second book tour and have some good reading for the plane ride home! Squee!

In the meantime, I'm slowly but surely working on the socks and hope to have a finished pair soon. Now I really want to learn to knit socks, so I can take some sock yarn with me to Alaska for a small, portable project. Has anyone taken their knitting with them on a plane recently? Are sharp metal knitting needles really allowed in a carry-on? If not, I have a very long twelve-hour flight ahead of me. I suppose I could at least carry some fondling yarn for comfort... :)

These heels need turning.

2007-03-01T19:37:00.001-06:00

I am loving the Magic Loop. I love it so much that I couldn't wait for the next sock class (which is just in two days, mind you) to continue magic looping. And since I had completed all my homework on the first sock and didn't really want to try turning the heel sans teacher, I placed the first sock on some stitch holders and started magic looping Sock #2!

Now I have two partially completed socks! I can't wait to finish these and cast on for another Magic Loop project (more socks, ya think?). Since I've learned how to magic loop, I've been looking at patterns that call for DPN's in a whole new light, and have been fighting the urge to buy all new circular needles with 40" cables.....

Wish me some knitting luck for Saturday's sock class!

Knitting on a couch outside of class tonight

2007-02-28T22:28:00.000-06:00

Fellow Student: I wish I knew how to do that. A co-worker was going to show me, but she quit before we got around to it.

Me: Well, you should take a beginner's knitting class or something. It's a lot of fun.

Fellow Student: Yeah, I was telling my friends we should take a class, you know, so we could, like, sit around and knit like old ladies and stuff.

Me: .........

Stunned me into silence, she did. Though now that I think about it, isn't eighteen a little young to be let into college anyway? And stuff?

A Tale of Two Kitties

2007-02-22T18:10:00.000-06:00

(Hee hee. Sorry, couldn't resist.)

In case anyone out there has been wondering how the two kitties are getting along, here is my proof that they're doing all right--as long as Shiva hits the whiskey a couple times a day.

After Loki had been here for about a month and a half, Shiva finally started to accept the fact that ANOTHER CAT IS EATING MY FOOD!!!! and the two became friends. I'm not sure how Loki feels about this friendship because Shiva is the licking-est cat I have ever seen. She enjoys nothing more than repetitively licking...anything. Which includes Loki. Loki is the most groomed cat in the world.

And also, photogenic. Probably because of her daily dose of Shiva saliva.

Together, the two have ripped apart our red antique armchair, "rearranged" all of my home health paperwork, and knocked over a plant stand, nearly killing Laertes, our ten-year-old ivy.

I'd say they're getting along just fine.

Think I'll finish a scarf in time for summer?

2007-02-20T11:59:00.000-06:00

I recently added a third project to the mix (the first two being Forbes Forest and my sock)--another scarf, made with some of the Malabrigo I recently purchased. I just couldn't help myself--this wool is like buttah. Ususally, I'm a one-project-at-a-time kind of girl, and I'm not sure how I feel about having multiple knits "on the needles".

At first, it was fun. Because, you know, it's fun to start a new project. Especially when you have new yarn. In fact, sometimes you just sort of cast on without even realizing what you're doing. Or if you do know what you're doing, you have visions of your multiple projects flying off the needles, and oh won't it be fun having variety.

Instead, I'm looking at a bunch of projects in varying states of NOT DONE. And while each project is a pleasure to knit, I'm kind of ready for a FO. Or a FFO (freakin' finished object), if you know what I mean.

All right. That's all my whining today. Back to work with me.

I even like pink foods.

2007-02-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

About half a mile from my house is a new store called Canterbury that sells imported British goods. I checked it out the other day and was delighted to find out that many of the imports are foods. Which are, of course, one of my favorite things EVAH.

I don't exactly know what to do with golden syrups and clotted creams, but I plan on finding out. In the meantime, I just had to pick up a package of mini battenburgs, which I first heard of on Yarnstorm several months ago. She made her own, of course, (and knit a matching tea cosy!) because she is just awesome like that. Me, I was just happy to discover battenburgs of any sort in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

They are adorable little cakes wrapped up by a marzipan, and they are deliciously almondy and apricoty. Even if they are store-bought. And their coloring reminded me of a certain scarf that has been blocking for days and days and days, the pins still trapping it's curled edges to a flat surface.

I unpinned the scarf, transferred it back to its knitting needle, and shook it violently. I'm happy to report that Forbes Forest now only possesses an inkling to curl. And now that I know I'll be able to keep it in line, I can continue knitting it!

After I finish off another battenburg, of course.

For Shame

2007-02-13T11:53:00.000-06:00

No new knitting to post about. Instead, I thought I'd share an embarrassing story, because 1) my knitting, it moves slowly, and 2) I take a perverse pleasure in humiliating myself publicly.

One evening when Rick and I still lived in Idaho, we received a phone call. Rick was using the bathroom at the time (sorry, Rick, the secret's out--now the world knows you're the same as the rest of us :) ), so I answered the phone.

"Hi, there." A very drawling, Southern, female voice said. "Is Rick home?"

I did not know anyone who sounded like this. And the voice sounded like it might be my sister-in-law, if for some reason she had decided to acquire a thick Southern accent. For some reason, in the split second that I thought about it, this made sense to me. This was my sister-in-law! I decided to play along with the Southrun drawl.

"Yes'm, he sho is, but he's takin' a big ol' shit right now."

Oh yes. I did. And was greeted by silence. Fear crept up on me right as the female voice recovered and politely said, "Well, this is his old friend from college. Could you tell him that I called?"

OMG. Surprised that I didn't die from shame right on the spot, I managed to find a piece of paper and jot down her name and phone number. I let Rick know about the whole humiliating affair, and I believe he apologized about my behavior for me when he called her back, but he still laughs about it to this day. I still turn beet red thinking about it. Didn't my momma raise me better?

I finally met Rick's old friend in person last Friday night, and she is friendly, funny, and kind. We didn't mention our first encounter years ago, probably because her momma raised her better, too. I can only hope that her first impression of me will wear off eventually, and someday she will not feel sorry for the match that her poor friend Rick made. :)

Magic Lupin

2007-02-05T10:13:00.000-06:00

Okay, I guess no one else wants a knitting superpower. That, or y'all were so overcome with emotion over the announcement that Book 7 will be published this summer that you couldn't even think about knitting. I know that's what happened to me on Friday and caused me to, in fact, not block my Forbes Forest scarf.

But despite stalling on my scarf (and mourning the end of Harry Potter), I had quite a productive knitting weekend. On Saturday, I took a sock class at Gourmet Yarn. I bought a big fat yarn (in comparison to sock yarn, at least) to make a thick warm sock (less stitches, you see) and learned how to Magic Loop!

I've never really been interested in knitting socks, despite all the wonderful photos of knit socks I see on knitblogs. I've just always found something more interesting. But lately, I've been craving a small project that I can keep in my purse or even in the center console of my car. Something small and portable for quick, on-the-go knitting. Something that isn't a washcloth.

Et voila! Le sock! Why didn't I think of it before?

Because I hate double-pointed needles, that's why. So when Margaret of Gourmet Yarn said she could teach me to magic loop during the sock class, I jumped at the class. And though I've only completed the ribbing so far, I already love magic looping. So much more than DPN's. I can't even tell you how much.

The next sock class isn't until March. I thought about going ahead and working it out on my own, but I've never been a fearless knitter. I think it will be nice to have someone there showing me how to turn the heel and make the toes and whatever else there is to sock knitting, instead of my usual method of learning new knitting skills: attempting the technique while juggling an instruction book on my lap and fighting off two cats with my elbows.

Luckily, I started yet another project Saturday morning, so I'll definitely have something to keep me busy until the next sock class....

(By the way, over the weekend I discovered another knitting superpower I would like to have: the ability to correctly count my cast-on stitches. At this point, this skill would almost have to arrive in the form of a superpower, because no amount of practice has yet helped. Three years of casting on and I can still count my stitches five times and come up with five different numbers. Sheesh)

It's a plane! It's a bird! It's Super Knitter!

2007-02-01T09:25:00.000-06:00

It's snowing this morning and the office has called and asked me to reschedule my morning appointments for safety's sake. No problemo. That means I get to spend the morning knitting. Yay for snow! I've transferred my Forbes Forest scarf to scrap yarn and plan to block it this morning to see if the curl straightens out. Hey! That made me think of a knitting soap opera to add to Kay's list: If the Curl Turns. While the pink scarf is blocking, I just might start a new scarf out of my Malabrigo. Thanks again, snow!

My comment the other day about willing my knitting started a line of thought on knitting superpowers. If I could have a knitting superpower, what would it be? I think I've decided on the ability to always get gauge the first time without ever having to swatch.

Or maybe the power to turn myself and large amounts of yarn invisible in a yarn shop. Tough choice.

What would your knitting superpower be?

Whoops.

2007-01-30T07:31:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Rick's birthday. (Happy Birthday, sweetie!) Unfortunately, I was really unprepared for it. I tend to think about the gifts I give for a long time, completely and unnecessarily stressing myself out over giving THE. PERFECT. GIFT.

But not this year. Still hung over from Christmas shopping, I waited until the last minute to start thinking of a birthday gift. By that time, it was too late to rope in other folks to go in together on a large gift or to order something online.

I also forgot how old Rick was. I told at least four people that this birthday would be his 39th. Then last week, Rick mentioned his 38th birthday coming up. Like an idiot, I politely tried to correct him.

"Um, sweetie? Do you...I mean...Is that how old you think you will be?"

"Um, yes. Because that is how old I'll be."

Whoops. So I accidentally aged my husband a year, putting him much too close to forty for comfort, scrounged up a gift that was something he could use but definitely not something he wanted, and then. Then he opened his birthday card.

"Oh, I always love this card."

Excuse me? You always love this card? That's right. I have apparently given him the same birthday card several times in the last ten years.

Sorry, sweetie. I'm going to start thinking about your gift for next year's birthday RIGHT NOW. But you may want to remind me occasionally that you're not turning forty yet.

Trouble in Scarfsville

2007-01-29T09:12:00.000-06:00

So I'm knitting and knitting and knitting away, and suddenly I stop and look at the progress because it looks like I've knit almost a foot! I'm almost a fifth or sixth of the way done! Go me! And then I see...

The curl. Check out the curl on this scarf. Especially on the left side there. I've tugged it, I've pulled it, I've tried my darnest to ignore it. But it just keeps curling. So I googled "Forbes Forest curl" and sure enough, lots of blogs pop up that essentially say, "I loved knitting this scarf, but I wish it didn't curl so much."

Hmmph. So now I have a dilemna. I can either 1) ignore the curl, pretending that it won't be there when it's done and my scarf will drape just as prettily as it does in the book, 2) continue knitting, pretending that I'll be able to block the curl out even though every tutorial on blocking ever written tells you that you will not be able to block a curl out, or 3) frog it and start a different pattern for the pink scarf.

Number One really isn't very bloody likely. There is just no way I will be able to ignore the curl. If I continue to knit this pattern, I'm likely to hold it up every couple rows just to confirm that the curl really is as bad as I think it is.

Number Three is probably the most rational choice, because I am sure that I will not like a scarf that curls up like that. How will I show off my pretty cables if they're inside a curl? And doesn't this wonderful yarn deserve better?

Unfortunately, I don't feel very rational or practical. In fact, I'm inclined towards Number Two. Partially because I spent a week or so deciding on this scarf pattern and then carefully picking my yarn and then patiently (very patiently, remember all the ice here) waiting on my yarn to arrive. But mostly because I love this pattern so much, and I really, really want things to work out between us. I want it so bad (and here's the crazy part) that I start to think I might actually be able to WILL THE CURL AWAY.

So what would you do, knitters? Any tips, suggestions, or references to loony bins? Thank you.

Pretty in Pink

2007-01-25T17:14:00.000-06:00

It probably looks like I'm about to bind off on the world's fanciest washcloth...

...but believe me. When this baby grows up, she's going to be a pretty pink scarf.

The pattern is Forbes Forest by Kathy Zimmerman, from Scarf Style, and it is so fun to knit. It took only a few rows to memorize, and now it's easy to knit and yet much more interesting than my usual mindless stockinette or ribbed scarf, because every other row there are cables and bobbles to make!

Back to knitting!

P.S. The above link to Forbes Forest takes you to a picture of it on Knit Picks' website. The picture doesn't give much detail, but the description beside it made me laugh. I just think it's funny that this pattern is described as masculine. I suppose it's a masculine scarf. Clearly I'm supposed to think it's masculine since a MAN is wearing it. But I guess I just don't see why it's not feminine as well. What constitutes a masculine scarf or a feminine scarf? Must a scarf have lace or fringe to be feminine? Anyway, I guess I'm making damned sure it's feminine by knitting it with pink yarn! Or maybe it's a masculine scarf that's in touch with its feminine side.

Stash Enhancement!

2007-01-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

The UPS man finally delivered my newest bundle of hopes and dreams.

Many a time I have taken home a single skein of yarn from a local yarn shop, something so colorful or soft that I just couldn't leave it behind. But shopping for yarn online is more methodical. I've never ordered yarn that wasn't for a specific project. A couple weeks ago, I decided it was time for new projects and I ordered enough yarn for three new scarves. Because I love the scarves, you know.

I now have two colorways of Malabrigo for two different scarves, because I've always wanted to find out what all the hype is about. Let me tell you, this yarn is FABULOUS! I know that technically I haven't actually knit with it yet, but it is quite wonderful for smooshing cheeks into. And the colors! So pretty! So mesmerizing! So unable to be captured by my meager photography skills. And also, from Uruguay! So I can feel like some kind of globe-trotting knitting fool! I can't wait to get my needles into this yarn.

But first, I am going to knit myself a pink scarf. When Rick read my Knitting Goals post, he said, "Oh, just go ahead and knit a pink scarf already." So I decided that if I was going to knit a pink scarf, it may as well be a really, really, really soft scarf. I couldn't afford the Lobster Pot (Some day, baby! Some day.), so I purchased a cashmere blend. This Rowan Cashsoft DK may only have 10% cashmere, but I think it's the softest wool I've ever purchased. And machine washable! I wonder if I'll actually risk it, though...

Bring on the winter storm weekend!

Reason #117 Why I Don't Have Children

2007-01-17T08:08:00.000-06:00

This morning I found Shiva playing with her favorite new toy. The Exacto Knife.

Who knew I was such a prolific knitter?

2007-01-15T12:09:00.000-06:00

Good God, I hope I knit something other than washcloths in 2007. On the other hand, I think I'll start boasting that I already have four finished objects this year. Let's see, I don't think I could say that until August of last year....
I ordered some yarn a little over a week ago. My stash is just not doing it for me right now, and I have been patiently waiting for new yarn to arrive...but I just had to knit something over the long, cold weekend. Why hello, trusty washcloth! With the bright cheery colors! I'm not sure which is brighter, the reflection off the ice or my Sugar 'N Cream yarn.
And here is the shot that shows that I have a two-foot ice-drift outside my front door. I just hope the UPS guy isn't too afraid of it to deliver my yarn....

You are an obsession.

2007-01-10T19:29:00.000-06:00

Bloggers are great. In just about no time after publishing my nerdy desires last night, I was sent to Library Thing. And now I have just what I needed: a new obsession. I stayed up way too late last night, creating my account and then checking out other member's accounts. LibraryThing is the perfect combination of two of my favorite past times: list-making and voyeurism.

With LibraryThing, you can catalog your own library, rate books, write and read reviews, and get suggestions. In this way, it is very much like Netflix (have I told y'all how much I heart Netflix?). You can also check out other folks' reviews, ratings, and book stashes, and you can even join discussion groups based on like interests. And yes, I already checked: there is a knitting group AND a Harry Potter group! Squee!

The only thing I wish it had was a Wish List section (and who knows, maybe it does and I haven't found it yet), something like Amazon's Wish List. I'm finding a lot of books that I want to read, and it would be handy to have an easily accesible To Read list.

If'n you're interested, here is the online library I started last night. Click on "see catalog" for my list. I haven't had time to enter in more than a few books, but I plan to enter my entire library eventually. And if you are already a member or would like to start up a membership, please leave your profile URL or catalog URL in the comments. I'd love to stalk, I mean, check out your library!

A nerd can dream.

2007-01-09T17:37:00.000-06:00

So, I was just thinking to myself, "Man, I really wish there was a Netflix for books," when I realized, "Duh! It's called the library!"

At least I didn't say it out loud or anything (or does putting it up on the Internet count?). And though I love love love having an online card catalog, in a way that the teenagers of today will never understand because they've always had an online card catalog, what I would really like is a rating system like Netflix has for movies.

That way, I could check up on my friends and see what books they're reading, what books they want to read next, and what books they've liked or think people should steer clear of. You get the drift. Wouldn't that be fun?

And also, maybe the library could deliver the books in big red envelopes.

The first of many, I'm sure.

2007-01-05T13:50:00.000-06:00

Simple, functional, and made of cheap, durable cotton. Washcloths are my comfort knitting.

The Knitter's Resolve.

2007-01-04T08:50:00.000-06:00

I have really enjoyed reading New Year's Resolutions on many blogs this past week. Resolutions are such an insight into a person, what their goals are, what they want to do, what they want to change about themselves. And since most of us that read blogs are a bunch of armchair voyeurs, there has been some great reading this week.

That said, I am not going to make any resolutions this year. I'm all resolved out. I have some core resolutions that stay the same from year to year (i.e., get in shape and get out of debt), and I'm likely to work on them or not work on them regardless of the list I make.

Instead, I have just a few knitterly goals that I'd like to share. It's also a good idea that I keep a record of these goals here, so I can go back to it in October of 2007 and get to work.

1. Knit a pink scarf. The entire reason I wanted to learn to knit was because of a pink scarf I saw at the Gap. The inner miser/do-it-yourself-er in me exclaimed, "Forty bucks! For a scarf? I could make that for less than forty bucks!"

That's right. I thought I could knit a Gap-worthy scarf for about 6 bucks or so with some Red Heart from Hobby Lobby. Little did I know that a) it would take me over a year to figure out how to knit, and b) I'd soon be spending a heck of a lot more than forty bucks for a scarf. But guess what? I still haven't knit myself a pink scarf.

2. Learn to magic loop. No matter how many little projects I make on DPN's, my hatred of them has never waned. I'm afraid that if I'm ever going to be able to complete a sock, I'm going to have to learn to magic loop it.

3. Organize my knitting needles. I have circular needles in every room of the house. Nuff said.

4. Knit a Katie-sized sweater. To date, I have attempted one Katie-sized sweater and one Katie-sized vest. On the attempted sweater, I learned that since I don't weigh 100 pounds soaking wet, I won't look good in a sweater made of super bulky yarn at 2 stitches per inch, no matter how good it looked on the model. With the vest, I learned not to try to make a garment bigger than it should be. Deciding to knit a 40-inch vest to fit my size 36 bust just made for lots of extra material that didn't know where to go. And while I was making this item too big for me already, I had the great idea to add some horizontal stripes. Because, you know, I just didn't feel big enough already.

So, this time, I'm thinking a simple, one-colored, top-down raglan sort of thing. Picovoli? Somewhat Cowl? Green Gable? Something like that. We'll see.

And that's it, folks. I'm keeping my goals simple this year. I have a feeling that as nursing school approaches and then completely overwhelms me, there will be a lot of comfort knitting going on (read: mucho pictures of washcloths). Exciting, no?

Time for Coffee.

2006-12-30T09:22:00.000-06:00

A sampling of Rickisms from this morning:

"Loki's making biscuits on me. Mmmm. Biscuits sound good."

"We celebrate Christmas with German Christmas trees and Mexican food. We really are mutts."

"Are your Mom and Grandma going to see Dream of Happyness or The Pursuit of Girls today?"

I do love quick and easy projects.

2006-12-27T07:38:00.000-06:00

While Rick and I were staying at my sister-in-law's house this weekend, I noticed a tan washcloth in the sink. It was the one I made for her for Christmas last year, when I gave gifts of hand-made soaps, lotion, and washcloths. I was so excited to see it because it was ACTUALLY BEING USED!

Most of my family members never use the items that I make. Soaps sit in their wrapping for months and months, which is a shame because I don't use preservatives and all the scent will leave the soap in a couple of months. My mother's Christmas washcloth sits as a make-shift doily on her antique ironing board.

My sister-in-law says that she likes her hand-knit washcloth the best because it has some tooth to it and scrubs better than her other ones. And her brother-in-law (my SIL's BIL) has even requested some for himself!

Remember me saying that after Christmas, the knitting would be all about me, me, me? I guess I'm going to postpone that for a week or so. I always seem to have some Sugar 'N Cream Cotton laying around, so I'm going to whip up a few more washcloths before my excitement over washcloths peters out!

It's a kitty cat Christmas. With wine, spirits, and plumbers.

2006-12-22T11:30:00.000-06:00

Hey, Shiva! I'll distract the human with my Crazy-Evil Kitty Eyes, while you break into the liquor cabinet and find the whiskey! Good plan, Loki! Maybe if we pour the human a drink, she'll forget about how we destroyed the Christmas tree and unraveled all her Christmas ribbons.
Actually, kitties, I'm already feeling much better. Not only have I just outed myself on the internet as a crazy cat lady who makes up cat conversations to go with her cat pictures--I finished up my Christmas shopping this morning and came home to find the plumber filling in the trench in the front yard. I bet he reads my blog. Hi, plumber (and thanks again)!

Merry Christmas, everybody. I'll see you next week!

My last-minute knitted gifts took me two months, but who's counting?

2006-12-21T10:15:00.000-06:00

Hi, everyone! Sorry it's been so long, but I just had an opportunity to SPEND A WEEK IN HAWAII!!!!!

Yeah, okay, I'm kidding. But that cheered me up way more than how I actually spent my week.

This is my front yard. I will spare you the details of the Great Plumbing Disaster of 2006, because really, the picture says it all: The Jaws of Life ripped up my yard, water lines were replaced, inhabitants of the house went without running water for DAYS, and trembling hands were unable to focus the camera. Hey, plumbers? If you're out there? Thank you for saving my house. Now can you please come back and fix my yard?

On the bright side, the lack of running water at my house sent me running to my mother's house over the weekend. Absent of chores like wrapping gifts and mailing Christmas cards (I bought a box of cards, lost them, and haven't found enough Christmas spirit to get off my ass and look for them), I spent the weekend finishing my Christmas knits.

I made bunches.

I used the pattern in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, modifying it just a bit to accomodate for the worsted weight yarns that I used. Mostly I used leftover Cascade 220, but I just had to break into my new Noro Kujaku (courtesy of Fannie Pie, of course) for a couple. These mini-sweaters are a fun, easy knit, and would probably be quick, too, if you're not the Prairie Knitter. These are knit with DPN's, and unfortunately, the Prairie Knitter forgets how to knit when she holds more than two needles.

Now, I guess I just need to brave the stores and get that Christmas shopping done. I am not kidding when I tell you that when I woke up this morning and stumbled into the kitchen, I thought to myself, "Hey, that wine looks pretty good."

Under pressure.

2006-12-13T07:14:00.000-06:00

The Christmas knits I've been making are very small gifts that use up leftover yarn and are worked up on size 2 DPN's. I think my DPN's have given me a sign that they need a break (hee hee..break!) from the Christmas knitting.

I had heard of folks snapping their wooden DPN's but had never experienced it myself. I guess my lovely Lantern Moon just couldn't take that last K2tog. Being the resourceful knittah that I am, I managed to finish out the little giftie on broken needles, but I think I'll need a replacement pair to finish up my last two gifts.

Rest in piece (hee hee...piece!), little DPN.

Think I'll go make a batch of cookies now.

2006-12-12T07:32:00.000-06:00

I went to Bath and Body Works yesterday, and because I know the Nanda loves this scent, I picked up a bottle of Coconut Lime Verbena lotion to sniff. OMG, y'all. It's fantastic. I resisted the urge to slather myself down right then and there, and I didn't buy any because it's Christmas and I need to save those dollars for other people, but I have a feeling a Coconut Lime fest will be in my near future.

I also love their Warm Vanilla Sugar line of body products. I guess I've always been a fan of scents that smell like food, which should come as no surprise considering how much I love to eat. No freesia or plumeria or cherry blossoms for me. I'll be the girl smelling like baked goods.

"Do I smell cinnamon toast?"

"Nope. It's just me."

I once made chocolate chip cookie scented soap. I loved it and wanted to give them out as presents, until Rick informed me that most people, while enjoying the smell of a chocolate chip cookie, didn't necessarily want to smell like one. "Really?" I said. "But why not?" I believe he just looked at me blankly at that point.

Rick is a fan of citrus. He likes (what I consider to be) a strong orange or lemon fragrance. I don't particularly care for orange myself, but I know a lot of people do. When I was in nursing school, I used to sell some of my soaps and lotions to fellow students to make some extra cash. One of my best sellers was a blend of orange and vanilla that I called Orange Creamsicle. I couldn't stand the stuff myself, but other people really loved it.

The lime in Bath and Body Works' Coconut Lime Verbena is not overpowering. It's just enough to make you smell like a pina colada. Which is, in my opinion, a very good thing.

No, kitty, that's my pomegranate!

2006-12-10T06:51:00.000-06:00

And if I were to spend that much on pants, you can bet they wouldn't make me look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

2006-12-07T09:21:00.000-06:00

Rick is still plugging away at his training for Mt. McKinley next year. Despite the cold temperatures, he works out almost every day. On the rare occasion that he does bitch about the weather, I continue to support his decision to climb this mountain by spouting off wisdom such as, "Ha! You think this is cold? Just wait until you're on Denali! Now get out there and drag that tire around the lake!"

Imagine, if you will, the sound of a whip cracking and maniacal laughter. Lucky man, no?

I've also been encouraging Rick to start buying his equipment now, so he will have some time to test different pieces out before May. Yesterday he told me that he had ordered his mountain climbing pants (he can't really buy any of this stuff in state, because we live in Okla-mountainless-homa). The lady receiving his order asked why he needed pants that will keep you warm in -100 degree weather. She mentioned that she's received orders for these pants from people climbing Everest and people spending winters in Siberia, among other things.

Against my better judgment, I asked Rick how much the pants cost. He sheepishly replied, "Two hundred and eighty dollars."

I was shocked. "Two hundred and eighty dollars! I don't even have a pair of pants that costs two hundred and eighty dollars!"

I thought for a moment. "I mean, I completely and one hundred percent support you in this decision."

Thirty Days of NaBloPoMo and I still haven't put my button up yet.

2006-11-30T08:58:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are. November 30th. THE LAST DAY OF NABLOPOMO. Hey, Fussy. It's been real, and it's been fun, but...shit fire, am I glad it's over! My only regret is that I didn't blog drunk, not even once. I guess there's always next year.

I am now planning on taking a few days off from the blog. I haven't had much time to actually read other people's blogs lately, and I'm dying to find out what's happening with all my favorite bloggers. And also, have I mentioned that I still have nine little Christmas knits to complete? And oh, yeah. There's that little thing I like to put off until December 23rd called Christmas shopping. I should really go ahead and start that.

Is it just me or does time begin accelerating right after Thanksgiving?

I hope everyone has enjoyed my attempts at daily writing. Although now that I'm thinking of it, some drunk writing might have really been nice addition. Anyone up for NaDruBloPoMo next year? Anyone?

The Weatherman

2006-11-29T19:36:00.000-06:00

I have not had a television since 2000. I have really enjoyed the liberation from TV, and I have my computer for watching movies and episodes of Lost. (I can give up the TV, y'all, but I can't give up the Lost). But because I don't have a television, I also don't have the evening news, which means I also don't have the weather on the evening news. Sure, I could just check the weather online, but I faced the fact long ago that I just won't remember to do it. I never think about the weather until I step outside and experience it myself.

In the last six years, my mother has become my own personal weatherman. Tired of seeing me show up in a T-shirt in thirty-degree weather, sheepishly saying, "Who knew the temperature was going to drop?", she has taken it upon herself to call me whenever there is a drastic change in the weather. This being Oklahoma, I get these calls quite frequently.

Last night, she called me to tell me about the winter storm blowing in. And to tell me to wear a coat ("I will, Mom."). And to remind me to put my ice scraper in my car ("It's already there, Mom.") And to tell me that I should unscrew the water hoses from the house ("Um. I'll be sure to have Rick do that, Mom.").

Before hanging up, she said, "I feel like there's something else I should warn you about, but I can't remember it right now."

That's my mom. She probably hoped she'd raise a kid smart enough to own a TV, if for no other reason than to know what tomorrow's weather will be, but she sticks with me anyway. No matter how old I get, she's always looking out for me. Even when I don't want her to. Even when we don't see eye to eye. She's a fantastic mother and my best friend. And I can always count on her getting my back.

The Power of Blog

2006-11-28T21:16:00.000-06:00

A day after I posted about my new kitty running away, she came back. And last night, mere minutes after I blogged about my inability to make a bow, I had one. I may have preferred that my husband didn't show me up by tieing the bow himself in about, oh, five seconds. But still...

The blog provides. Perhaps I should complain about how I never win the lottery.

Ho ho ho.

2006-11-27T22:58:00.000-06:00

I have just spent three hours trying to tie a large bow out of ribbon. The kind you would see on a pew at a wedding or in my case, on my Christmas tree.

Except that in my case, you won't be seeing it on my Christmas tree because I CAN'T DO IT. Three hours and fifteen Internet tutorials later, I am giving up.

Ten years ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me I would be upset at my lack of bow-making skills. In fact, I probably would have added, "Who do I look like? Martha fucking Stewart?"

Today, I have a very different perspective on the art of crafts. I have come to understand that you don't have to disregard the traditionally feminine arts to be a feminist. I now enjoy and take a great interest in a variety of crafty hobbies, from knitting to canning to soap-making. Someday, I would really like to learn to sew, to make quilts, to grow my own vegetables, and to make my own paper, among many other things.

But making bows out of ribbons? I'm leavin' that shit to Martha.

Perfect Timing

2006-11-26T19:18:00.000-06:00

I did not take a self-portrait today, but I did take several other pictures. Here's my favorite.

A post a day makes my hair turn gray.

2006-11-25T22:04:00.000-06:00

NaBloPoMo is almost over, and because I'm a glutton for punishment, I would now like to take a moment to reflect on what I have learned over the last month.

1) Writing a post a day is hard. Really hard.
2) Writing a good post is even harder. One of the reasons I signed up for this project was because I thought it would be a good impetus to think more about my writing, to say more with what I write. Instead, the exact opposite occurred. Faced with the same deadline every day, I have had less time to focus on the writing. I have just had to get it out there.
3) I don't like just getting it out there. I know there's a danger in editing yourself to death, but I happen to like my writing better with a little editing. As I re-read some of my posts from this month, I find myself thinking, "Oh, I meant to talk about such-and-such in that post." Maybe I would have remembered those points if I'd had time to edit.
4) Writing every day is not fun for me. I've never fancied myself a writer. I don't really even enjoy writing. So why do I have a blog? I think I've just now realized that though I don't enjoy writing, I do like to share stories. And since I'm not a particularly outgoing person, writing is a means of doing that. But presenting a story a day--me no like.
5) As I now spend quite a bit of my evening on the computer ("Oh, crap! I forgot I haven't blogged yet today!"), I find myself missing the things I usually do with that time: knitting, watching movies, reading, cooking. All right, all right, so I don't really spend time cooking. But I have really missed watching Rick cook my dinner every night.
6) Now that I think about it, maybe I can blame NaBloPoMo for the fact that my Christmas knitting is coming along so slowly. That's right. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am sick and tired of stockinette stitches.
7) Having two cats is completely different than having one cat. And while this may have nothing to do with NaBloPoMo, this last bit of knowledge, when repeated to myself as a mantra, has helped me retain my sanity more than any of NaBloPoMo's lessons combined.

Twenty-five posts down and five to go!

It's probably a good thing I have to work today.

2006-11-24T11:57:00.000-06:00

Rick, brave soul that he is, was the one to venture forth into the land of Crazy Shoppers today. I am happy to report that his adventure went much better than mine last year. Of course, his trajectory did not take him near Circuit City, which as far as I am concerned, is the true root of all evil.

Instead, Rick went to Academy to pick up a gift that we saw in yesterday's newspaper flyers. He reports that the gift we sought was not at all the hot item being purchased at Academy. The draw for the bulk of the customers appears to have been gun sheds. Storage closets for guns. Apparently, the price was very good and many people were buying three or four gun sheds.

Am I the only one a little frightened by this? Where have these people been keeping all these guns while waiting for the price for gun sheds to drop? I just hope the Academy shoppers didn't have to wait in line at Circuit City this morning is all I'm saying.

How quickly we turn.

2006-11-23T22:54:00.000-06:00

A friendly game of Uno followed Thanksgiving dinner.

Step-dad: I love you.
Mom: Draw four.
Step-dad: I hate you.

Ah, family!

Cranberry Goodness

2006-11-22T12:15:00.000-06:00

I love Thanksgiving. The planning and preparation. Cooking the night before. Getting up early and spending the entire day at my mom's. Everyone else arrives and leaves when they will, but I get there first and am the last to leave. It's always a great day.

Tonight I'll be making cranberry chutney, from a recipe handed down to me by my grandmother (the cute lady who knits baby blankets and makes a wicked peach cobbler)--so you know it's good! If you need a last minute recipe for a cranberry dish, try this one out. Over the years, I've had many requests for the recipe. And it's easy! You know if the Prairie Knitter (she who has never NOT burned rice and who finds peeling oranges quite taxing) can make it, anybody can.

Cranberry Ginger Chutney:
1 12-oz package fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 to 2 cups chopped pecans

Bring cranberries, sugar, and orange juice to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in celery, apple, orange rind, and ginger. Fold in pecans until blended, then place in bowl and cover. Refrigerate overnight or at least eight hours. Makes six cups.

Happy Thanksgiving! (Though I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow--they may have let me off work for a day, but the NaBloPoMo--not so much).

My brain hurts.

2006-11-21T08:37:00.000-06:00

I am really enjoying Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. The book starts out with the Big Bang and appears to be working it's way down (or up) the timeline. It's so much more than a science-oriented history book, though. It's presented more in the manner of, "How do these scientists figure this stuff out?" He not only presents the science that has been discovered over the centuries, but also how that science was done. It's all quite fascinating and presented in a manner that is easy to understand.

Or at least, most of it is easy to understand. As Bryson presents right at the beginning of the book, we can never truly understand some things. It will give you a headache to really contemplate the size of the universe, say, or the age of the Earth, or the distance between galaxies. We just can't grasp things of this scale.

We also can't comprehend the micro end of the scale. The tininess of the particles in everything. Bryson does try to help us, though. One of my favorite analogies that he presents is when he is trying to describe Avagadro's number. As you may remember from Chemistry (I certainly didn't), Avagadro's number is the number of molecules in approximately 2 grams of hydrogen gas. You'd imagine this to be a big number, right? After all, molecules are really tiny. But would you expect it to be roughly the number of popcorn kernels it would take to cover the United States to a depth of nine miles?

I love this book. But I think I need some Tylenol.

Fess Up Time

2006-11-20T20:44:00.000-06:00

I did not see Happy Feet over the weekend. It just didn't happen. Which is probably a blessing in disguise, as it is possible that going to that movie this weekend could have made yet another case against having children.

(Can y'all see my list now? Reasons Not to Have Children #27: Happy Feet, November 2006.)

I was quite pouty about missing my Harry Potter trailer, so I am happy to announce to anyone who is interested that it is up and ready to be viewed. And because I didn't give Happy Feet any money, I'll direct you to the trailer on their site.

And yes, I've watched it about twenty times already. My excitement over seeing Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange is bordering on psychosis.

Self-Portrait Sunday: Get a Haircut

2006-11-19T15:04:00.000-06:00

I like to wear my hair really short. Shorter than most men, actually. I've been wearing my hair at various short lengths since I was fifteen years old and have found that I like the ultra-short best. Because, you know, it's fun to be called "Sir" by my blind elderly patients.

I know it's time to get a haircut when my hair starts to touch my ears. I can't stand the feel of it! When my hair is in that in-between stage--too long to do anything with it but not yet time for a haircut--I often just get out whatever barrettes I can find and clip it down to my head. My hairdresser knows I'm in dire need for a haircut when I call her and say, "Well, Rebecca, I had to bring out the barrettes today."

Motivation

2006-11-18T22:08:00.000-06:00

This is my Grandma at Christmas Eve last year, modeling the OU scarf and hat I knit for her. She's a knitter from way back, and currently mostly enjoys knitting baby blankets. Sometimes she knits a baby blanket even when she doesn't know anyone who is pregnant, because she knows that eventually someone will be. Isn't she cute?

I'm currently trying to motivate myself to finish this year's Christmas knits. I am knitting very small gifties from leftover yarns, and I thought they would not be very time consuming. But just as I finish one of the little buggers, I remember someone that I'd forgotten, and of course they need a little knitted gift, too. Couple this with the fact that each item is basically the same pattern, and I must admit that this year's batch of gifts have become a bit tedious.

I will persevere, though, because there are two fun parts to knitting Christmas presents. The first is seeing the recipient open your gift, particularly if they really appreciate it. That appreciation level usually quadruples if you've knitted for a fellow knitter, as most people can't comprehend why you spent sixty hours knitting a scarf when you could have just purchased one (and for cheaper, too!).

The second fun part about Christmas knitting is that once I'm done, I will pick something that is all for me. And it won't be from leftover yarn!

If only I were this dedicated to dieting.

2006-11-17T12:45:00.000-06:00

Rick and I rarely go to the movies. We used to quite frequently, but as we get older, we become less and less tolerant of other people in the movie theater. The way I see it, I just paid eight or nine dollars to see a movie (for which I had to walk uphill in the snow--whoops! Wrong old fogey story. How the memory goes!)--I might as well be able to see the movie in peace. Without someone tapping their foot on the back of my chair. And definitely without someone nearby talking all through the movie. And if I see you talking on your cell phone, someone had better hold me back or I will rip it from your hands and throw it against the wall while laughing maniacally. Because, yes, this last bit here...this is a personal dream of mine.

It's probably a good thing that we usually decide to stay in and watch whatever Netflix recently sent us. So why am I going to go to the movies this weekend, one of the busiest weekends of the year for movies? And why would I go to an animated movie with many children in the audience, practically guaranteeing much talking out of turn, seat-kicking, and probably a couple of CRYING BABIES?

Because the teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be shown in front of Happy Feet, that's why. And I want to see that 54 seconds on the big screen at least once before resigning to watching downloaded versions on my little laptop for eight months.

We'd better get there early and get a seat on the back row.

NaBloPoMo is affecting my marriage.

2006-11-16T21:32:00.000-06:00

So just now I invited Rick to sit by me and read what I'd written so far for tonight's post, knowing full well that he'd see my blank screen of doom. We sat for a moment. I began writing and after a few moments, Rick asked me what groceries we need for tomorrow.

I stopped typing and stared at him. "Are you kidding me? I finally got a little inspiration to write and you're interrupting me about groceries?"

Because, you know sweetie, I'm doing such important work here.

(And just so's you know, if you aren't still mad at me and you're reading this tomorrow...chocolate. I need lots and lots of chocolate.)

How Many "To Knit" Lists Can A Girl Have?

2006-11-15T19:42:00.000-06:00

I am a chronic list-maker. Give me a few minutes of down time, and I'll think up something to make a list of. Sometimes it's a grocery list. Sometimes it's a "to do" list. Sometimes it's a list of Things To Do For Our Ten Year Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony That Is So Not Likely To Happen Because It Would Cost More Money Than I Care to Spend. Y'all know.

I hope.

So in the spirit of outing oneself publicly, and at the risk of turning this month into NaLisPoMo, here is the embarrassing list of lists that I have created over the past year and a half. At least, the ones that were apparently worth saving in my Documents folder. Ahem.

Books To Read
Future Knits (doesn't this sound like a legitimate pattern book theme?)
Improvements to Make to the House
Questions to Ask Home Health Agencies
Ideas for Hand-Made Christmas Gifts
Knitting Plans 2006
Soap-Making Scents to Try
How to Organize the Dining Room
How to Organize the Living Room
How to Organize the Kitchen and Breakfast Nook
How to Organize the Utility Room
How to Organize the Hall Closet

(Okay, I need to take a break and ask a question here. How many of y'all are thinking that maybe if I'd spent half as much time cleaning my house as I did on these lists, I'd already be a bit more organized? Yeah. Me too.)

Things To Do Before I Die
Behr Paint Colors That I Like (you know, in case thinking about life and death gets too heavy)
Places I Want To Go in OKC
Workout Schedule: August 22 to September 30, 2005
Upcoming Church Schedule
Knitting Plans
Christmas List
My Christmas List (I can think about giving to OTHER PEOPLE for only so long)
Recipes To Try
Goals for the House 2007
Preliminary Plans for the Yard
Modified Knitting Plans 2006
OU Requirements: RN to BSN
Things I Could Spend Money on Right Now

and my personal favorite, which shows that I am always willing to share my talent of list-making with my loved ones:

Things for Rick To Do

I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese...

2006-11-14T19:17:00.000-06:00

My winnings from Fannie Pie's blog contest came in yesterday!

Three skeins of Noro Kujaku! First Suduko, now Kujaku. I'm quite international lately. :) I'm not sure what this Noro is destined to become, but for right now, it's sure pretty to look at.

Sue also included a lot of little prizes, including two pewter Harry Potter bookmarks (which will come in very handy for my re-reads before Book 7) and another bookmark which my husband promptly claimed for his own. Librarians rock! Especially when they have to practically give away the answer to their own blog contest (in bold letters, no less), but still send the fibery prize anyway! Thanks, Fannie Pie!

The World's Greatest Sandwich

2006-11-13T20:18:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Rick and I made the fried egg sandwich from the movie Spanglish. Adam Sandler plays a chef in the movie, and in one scene, he whips up a sandwich--a sandwich that has come to be known as The World's Greatest Sandwich. Spanglish is not a "food movie" (for those, I recommend Like Water for Chocolate, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Chocolat), but this scene left my mouth watering.

If you rent the movie, there is a great little DVD extra that takes you through the making of the sandwich. For months, I've been planning (and forgetting) to re-rent the movie just for that sandwich recipe. Then yesterday, it hit me. Duh! We have the internet! Someone has surely copied down the recipe and posted it somewhere.

I found the recipe here. We substituted veggie bacon for the real stuff, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly.

It was fantastic. Thank you, internet!

Self-Portrait Sunday: broken

2006-11-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

When I was eight, my right pinky finger was broken in a tragic karate-chop accident at my elementary school. Standing in line for P.E., my friend and I were taking turns karate-chopping each other. The part where maybe I wasn't thinking too clearly was that I was allowing myself to be karate chopped by a boy who took karate lessons (boy, did my mom let me have it for that). After a few hits, SNAP! My pinky finger was hanging limply to the side.

Apparently, I didn't think too clearly as a child, period. Right after that happened, as my eyes filled with tears and the pain sunk in, my friend said, "Don't tell anyone! We'll be in trouble for playing in line!" And so I didn't tell anyone. I was so afraid of getting in trouble that I held the pain for the last two hours of school and all the way home on the bus.

When I got home, I was glad to see that my dad was there. I immediately broke into tears and explained what had happened. He, of course, was torn between finding the kid who had hurt me and taking me to the ER. Luckily, the ER won out. Unfortunately, however, the doctor who placed the cast did not set the bone correctly, and as you can see, I have had a deformed pinky ever since.
I can't bend it or straighten it all the way, but it is fun for grossing out squeamish people.

I find that lists work well when you are feeling uninspired.

2006-11-11T21:03:00.001-06:00

First day off in twelve days and what did I do:

--spent my first two waking hours in bed with a book
--contemplated cleaning house and doing laundry (but never did start)
--drank me some Tazo
--bought Los Tacos burritos and took them to mom's
--read all the gossip in the last four weeks of People magazine
--general hanging out with the fam
--worked my first Sudoku puzzle
--finished one of my Christmas knits
--started my period

That last one really sucked.

Now, where did I last see her?

2006-11-10T07:02:00.000-06:00

A couple days ago, I lost my wallet. I spent a frantic thirty minutes searching the house and the car for it before I absolutely had to leave for work. During the car ride, I frantically called Rick and relayed the message that "Oh my God, I left my wallet at the grocery store last night and right now as we speak our money and our identies are being stolen!!!!!"

Rick immediately called the bank to have my debit card deactivated, and I immediately found my wallet. In my car. While driving.

When I drove to the bank to re-activate my card, the customer service representative began laughing. Apparently, the employee who deactivates the card must leave a note describing why the card needed deactivating. The note attached to my account read, "Husband called to deactivate card on account of lost wife."

Whoops!

Now if I could only knit on the job.

2006-11-09T21:10:00.000-06:00

I just realized I never gave much of an update on how my new job as a home health nurse has been going. That's primarily because I made a conscious decision not to. If I learned one thing in nursing school, it's that HIPAA equals LAWSUIT. But I just wanted to let you know how things stand. So here it is. In list form.

1. I love working during the day and sleeping at night. I think it's been hard on Rick, who prefers, if given the chance, to spread himself out over an entire queen size bed. But I've been sleeping like a baby.

2. It's been a really strange adjustment to a totally different style of nursing. It's probably going to sound arrogant, but I'm used to being "the best" at my job. I'm used to being the one that co-workers go to for help, not the other way around. It's not bad, just different, and I think it's good for me to break free of my comfort zone.

3. Better pay means more yarn in my future. When Christmas is behind me. I mean, when I get my mojo again.

4. My fear about walking into a patient's house to be greeted by ten thousand cockroaches...has mercifully not happened....yet.

5. One of my favorite patients has Alzheimer's. I see her every day and she recognizes me, but doesn't know my name or that I'm a nurse. Every day when she sees me, she says in her thick southern accent, "I just LOVE your hair." Brightens my day each time.

A Harlot-inspired Election?

2006-11-08T19:03:00.000-06:00

One of the outcomes of yesterday's election was a repeal of the ban on selling liquor on an election day. Oklahoma has some of the craziest liquor laws, and I'm glad to see this one go. I'd also like our grocery stores to be able to carry wine. Because I am prone to paranoia and conspiracy theories, I blame the oil and gas companies for that law: "They'll have to buy more gas if they have to drive to both the grocery store AND the liquor store!" The Yarn Harlot had an unfortunate run-in with the election day law back in July. I was so excited about our election yesterday that I sent her an email this morning:

Stephanie,

Thank you so much for coming to Oklahoma on your book tour last July. The Okie knitters had a blast listening to you speak and getting our books signed. Our only regret was that you had the misfortune of being in town on election day, and had to resort to drinking Budweiser due to our crazy liquor law that bans the sell of liquor on the day of an election.

I just wanted to let you know that after yesterday’s statewide election, the ban on selling liquor on election day has been repealed. The people of Oklahoma have spoken and we want to drink it up before/while/after we vote! So the next time you’re planning a trip to our state, you won’t need to plan around elections to get a decent drink.

I like to think that one of our legislators is a closet knitter who read about your predicament on your blog and decided then and there that (by God!) something needed to be done!

Katie

Hi again!

2006-11-07T20:55:00.000-06:00

Two posts on one day? Am I an overachiever or what?

Actually, just a short thankful post tonight. I've had a good day today.

1. I voted. Voting always makes me feel good. I'm the dork you see that wears her "I Voted" sticker all day long.

2. One of my reserved books came in to the library today. A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. I've already laughed my way through the introduction.

3. Look who came home!

Loki is now properly documented in case of future prison breaks.

4. I'm currently enjoying a long evening of election coverage, which just happens to be one of my favorite spectator sports, right along with tornado-watching. And the news (I say the news like it's The News) is calling the race for governor in Oklahoma--Brad Henry wins! This excites me to no end considering his opponent once called global warming the greatest hoax ever played on the American people. Go Oklahoma!

Brace yourself, Loki. It's going to be a long night.

Goober.

2006-11-07T08:03:00.000-06:00

A snippet of the conversation at our home this morning:

"Gubanatorial. It sounds so silly."

"What's sillier is that it's not gubanatorial. It's gubernatorial."

"Are you serious? Or are you just trying to make me sound silly when I say GOOBER-natorial today?"

Loki

2006-11-06T20:36:00.000-06:00

About a week and a half ago, Rick and I took in a new kitty cat. She is a stray that we had been feeding off and on for a couple of months. When she came to us looking skinnier than ever and was then attacked by one of the neighborhood bully cats, I scooped her up and brought her inside.

She looks a lot like my Shiva, with gray hair where Shiva has black, and a little spotty nose. At first, Shiva and the new gray kitty did not get along at all. The last week and a half have been full of hissing, growling, side-swiping and chasing. The two had just started to get along well, until my terrible mistake today.

Apparently, when I left the house this morning, I locked the door behind me but did not shut the door all the way. I came home to a wide open door. Thank God, Shiva was still inside, sleeping on the couch. Little Loki (who we'd finally named two days ago) was gone.

I haven't seen her at all tonight and feel just terrible. I had not purchased a collar and nametag for her yet, because we weren't sure if we would be keeping her. We were waiting to see if she and Shiva could live together relatively peacefully.

Two lessons learned today: Always (always!) make sure the door is closed. And if I ever bring in another pet, get a collar and nametag on them immediately.

I hope Loki will come back when she gets hungry enough, just as she has for the past couple months. In the meantime, I am certainly thankful my Shiva is still with me. It's amazing how she has worked her way into my heart over the last eight months. I've been hugging and squeezing poor little Shiva to death tonight.

Sorry for the depressing post. I didn't really feel like posting at all, but Rick suggested that I go ahead and write it all out. He was right (as usual). Here are a few pictures I managed to snap of her a couple days ago.

Thanks for listening. I'll let you know if she comes back.

Self-Portrait Sunday: red

2006-11-05T20:31:00.000-06:00

Self-Portrait Sundays have suddenly taken on whole new meaning to me...they take up four posts out of thirty for NaBloPoMo!

There's not a whole lot of my "self" in this picture, but since I worked all weekend, this is all I got. I like the picture, and you do get to see that I bite my nails.

Speaking of nail-biting, I remember that on one of the Lord of the Rings movies, on the commentary maybe (Ding Ding Ding!!! Clue #314 that you are reading the blog of a DORK!), someone says that Elijah Wood is very brave for allowing a close-up of his nail-bitten hands. Brave? That's brave? Silly me, I thought things like fighting in a war, standing up for what you believe in, and crossing past a killer cricket to get to the toilet were brave.

Maybe I should have titled this photo "Bravery".