family, work, school...what's knitting again?

I have missed my needles and wool. While trying to keep up with the knitting world through Ravelry, one day I came across Manic Purl's blog and podcast. Just listening to her enthusiastically knitting up many Christmas presents, and noting her many knitted gift suggestions, she motivated me in a kniterly way once again. So here's what I am working on right now:

Yuletide Gnomes by Alan Dart

... and a few pair of these:

Ribby Slipper Socks

Interweave's Holiday Knits 2008

... seven more knitting days (including today) till Christmas...

...falling behind...

With the start of a new school year, the shuttling of four kids to various activities, and beginning a new job, this is just about as close to knitting as I have come in the past two months...

...well, not quite. I do have a baby outfit on the needles (three new babies in my circle of friends). I also enjoyed the company of four dpn's and 100 gm of trusty sock wool on the GO train to Toronto this week. I don't envy those who have such long commutes to work every day; however, it is ideal knitting time!

There is just so much to knit, but so little time. Have you seen the preview for the winter Interweave Knits?

Back to school!

When they are literally climbing the walls, you know it is time to go back to school! That is, if they will let them in! Our "beautiful" children...
These are much better : )

An almost finished object, or two

I've always wondered what it would be like to make one of these...look familiar?

Starting to make sense yet?

Almost there now...

That's right! It's Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket.

BSJ pattern found in The Opinionated Knitter.

Knit with MARBLE (James C. Brett) in Denims (MT2)

Needles: 4 mm

I loved how this knit up in one piece and did enjoy watching my daughter try to figure out what it was, once the knitting was finished. It still needs the top seam and a few buttons but is otherwise ready for a fall/winter baby...or two...

Camping: the art of getting closer to nature while getting farther away from the nearest cold beverage, hot shower and flush toilet.

It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.-Dave Barry --American writer, b.1947

Every summer we head off to some park or other to go for a week of camping. This year, even though it has been the rainiest summer in eons, was no exception. After cramming our tent trailer and van as full as possible with camping "stuff" and food (marshmallows, chocolate, graham wafers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, bacon and eggs, etc) we first headed off to Charleston Lake Provincial Park. It rained the first night, it rained the second day, and the third day it rained again but the sun did come out for four hours, then it rained again, the fourth day was rainy, the fifth day we packed up and drove home in the rain. The sixth and seventh days were spent drying out the camping "stuff" and doing 10 loads of rain-soaked, mud-caked laundry. The camera got rained on and is barely functioning. We have one souvenir picture of our trip.

This was taken before it rained.

The trip was a disaster. Trying to make the most of it, I did bring along a bit of knitting...which I ripped out at least 10 times, in the rain.

Never mix lace knitting and camping.

Two weeks later we were back at it again, camping at another park called BurBaLac. Here the weather was much kinder to us and I was much wiser...

...I knit wash cloths.

Protein snack or just plain "icky"?

For the past five weeks or so, my neighbour and I have been faithfully running together and attending the Learn to Run clinic at our local Running Room. We have learned a lot as we run together, for example:

-do not wear "rotten cotton" on your runs

-one minute of running may feel like an eternity, but five weeks later five minutes of running is not so bad

-getting up at 5:45 AM to run is only possible because you're neighbour is waiting on her porch for you

-running on the sidewalk is harder on your legs than running on the road

-if you run on the road, various automobile drivers will make eye contact with you and still try to run you off the road, especially at 6 AM

Last evening we learned something new, once again, about the joys of running....avoid running past an open field, at dusk, during June Bug season. Swatting, shrieking, jumping, ingesting (gross, no we actually did not do that!) make for very poor running form!

After I returned from my run and showered off any bug remains, I "googled" the wretched creatures and found out that in actual fact, ingesting them may have not been so bad after all! Here's a little info about them that I found at this site:

"A chemical analysis of the June Bug revealed its hidden secrets as a beneficial healing remedy. Full of edible fats and proteins, the bug is a rich source of food and appetite stimulating medicine when prepared correctly.
When toasted in hot ashes, the internal body parts and juices of the bug congeal into a nugget of pure golden nutrition. After peeling off shriveled legs, wings, and wing case, the remaining orb of nourishment can be eaten one at a time or by the handful.
Toasted June bugs have a surprisingly sweet delightful taste. The flavor closely resembles thick raw molasses or crudely made ribbon cane syrup. It is difficult to eat just one."

Bon Appetit?

I think not!

Otto for Emily

The end of the school year is a very exciting time for kids and never seems to come quite soon enough. These last few days at school have been mostly fun for our kids, celebrating completing another grade, making summer plans with friends, having class parties. (While their teachers attempt to instill those last morsels of education).

It is time for a welcome break, to throw out the routines, sleep-in, play, and enjoy the all-too-short summer because, before the kids have a chance to say "Mom, I'm bored. What can I do?" - it will be September!

Owen has some mixed emotions about finishing grade three today and going on to grade four, as one of his good friends will not be returning in the fall. She and her family (her mother was also their teacher this year) will be starting a new chapter in their lives as they move to a new city and province. Her mother read to the class Owls in the Family by Farley Mowatt and this became one of Owen's favourite studies. I just couldn't resist and knit up Otto the Owl from Lucinda Guy's book "And So to Bed".

...from Owen to Emily...enjoy...

I think there will be a lot of "MSN-ing" happening this summer. : )