Friday Night Knitting Club of One

My sister has her graduation ceremony this evening, so when she asked if I could watch her two youngest, I didn't hesitate to say yes 'cause graduating is pretty special, and it's not as if I get to hang with them all the time since we live an hour apart. Are you like me, and if someone lives an hour away, you think of it always as two hours away? I mean, it takes an hour to drive there and another hour to get home, so that's really two hours. Y'all think like that, right? I admit it's the pessimist in me - everything is always half empty! : ) Anyways, the kids are absorbed by the Wii, so's I might as well be invisible. I did manage to coax the two littlest girls to come upstairs and chop apples for applesauce. They chopped much faster than I could peel. I also caught many apple slices being popped into their mouths. The applesauce smells wonderful. I also chose this quiet time to spray winter boots with stainguard, so the applesauce is overtaking the potent chemical smell in the foyer. Next up, knitting. One purple 80% cashmere, 20% silk cowl . . .

Happy Friday night!

N

Brown

I'm digging the brown today. The kids are watching Ghostbusters much too loud, and I have soup simmering for a work gig.

N

Happy hookin'

Another animal friend to add to the collection. This pattern is from here. I added the little feet, which look cute but when I sewed them on he kept falling over. To remedy that I crocheted a tail to balance things out and now he can stand on his own again.This one is for my friend's daughter who really likes penguins. The crochet amigurumi are multiplying. I have nowhere to put them so for now they are all sitting on a table in our spare room. They look like they're talking about something. Recipes? Health care reform? Mutiny? Here's to hoping that the holidays arrive soon so I can gift these guys before they get any ideas.

Best Costume To Date

Every year we argue about costumes. This year was no different. I wanted to make a jellyfish costume to showcase my creative skills, and the littlest insisted that a fish was in no way scary. Nothing but scary would do for this one. So I relented, and as is the case each time I relent, it is a success. Man, I hate to admit that.

So the oldest went to work finding black garments, and then she made a list of what was still needed. I drove to the store with the list and managed very well to pick up each item even though last-minute Halloween shoppers were swarming the seasonal aisles. I returned home to sew some twill tape to the sides of the hat to tie in a bow under her chin while the oldest applied make-up and finished the transformation. Actually the cherry on top has to be the Converse high-top sneakers, but who's counting? A perfect team effort!

I'm always amazed that this little sprite is so filled to the brim with excitement with each holiday. In all of her 13 years, the oldest has never been thrilled to see Halloween arrive while the littlest counted down the days. No, really. Every single morning before I had time to pour the cereal, she noted the number of remaining days. She started this two weeks ago. And while I dreaded it, she begged her dad to bring up the decorations from the basement. She dusted off each skeleton and hung up each ghost and bat in the box. She found some tattoos and made me apply them all over her arm. She planned out all the candy and made special treat bags for her friends. It was insane. And it was contagious. Us adults and teenager couldn't help but smile and enjoy ourselves. Dang kid.

N

Ready to Go Trick-or-Treating!

Jack'o'Lanterns - check!

Happy Halloween . . .

N

Let's Review October, Shall We?

:: Carrot tops from Thanksgiving dinner (My first time cooking a whole turkey, and it was a bona fide success!)

:: Same carrot tops three weeks later!

:: My newest favouritest soup - lentil barley vegetable! So easy, and so yummy. Into the crockpot in the morning, and instant dinner in the evening. I like my bowl with a generous dallop of plain yogurt and sprinkled with fresh parsley.

:: And I've been knitting behind the scenes. Mittens. Mainly because it first appeared that the Bumblebee had lost every pair that I had previously knit, but I did eventually end up finding one pair, and that is when this new newfie pair stalled. They seriously just need thumbs. That was two weeks ago.

:: I've also cast on for another February Baby Sweater using a cotton tweed dk in lilac. It's going to be a bit bigger than my first one. I like that it will be easily washed and it is very soft. I need to have this one done in three weeks, so I should really get a move on.

:: On the to-do list today is carving pumpkins and coming to an agreement on a costume. We also need to squeeze in a trip to the library and market. Maybe find a PG Halloween movie to watch as a family.

:: Tomorrow the Bumblebee starts field hockey.

N

Happy Halloween

Boo!Hope everyone has a safe and spooky Halloween!