Sunny Saturday & a pair of socks

My Low Roll Sporty socks (Cascade Fixation) are finished! I actually BO sock #2 last Monday night at knit group.

I'm hoping that when we do our yarn store field trip next Saturday that I can get more Fixation as I love this yarn---cotton is always good down here & the "sproingy" feel works for me too!







I CO the Vine Lace Scarf earlier this week & soon had the pattern memorized. I worked on it at home & in car line waiting for the Wee One. Thursday I realized there was a mistake towards the end of the knit/pattern row. I was off by a stitch, the pattern was no longer lining up & it happened about 2" down from where I was.
Granted, 2" in a scarf isn't an issue but still, the ripping out is so scary & frustrating. A-frogging I went & now we're nearing the end of the first skein. Yes, it's Koigu KPPPM. I'm also hoping to pick up another couple skeins of this yarn next week too!

The Wee One had a great time at school this week & is back in the swing of things. Yesterday when we picked her up she was crying---she didn't want the school day to end! The director was the one bringing her to the car so we chuckled about how they must be doing something right!

1st day of PreK

Four years ago I had a 4 month old baby girl who was rolling over, starting to sleep more than 10 hours at night, wanted nothing to do w/ cereal & was a generally sweet baby.

I don't know if I'd say I'd was envious of the other mothers in the MOMS group who had preschool age kids but was more fascinated by them. These kids seemed so fun & wow, some of them were in preschool. They seemed so much older than my little Wee Ones .

Next thing I know we arrived at today & the Wee One's first day of PreK. She's at the same school as the past 2 yrs but will be going 5 days a week now. When we got to school we saw some cars lined up for car line. Our plan was to walk the Wee One into her classroom. I gave her the option & she chose to do car line. When she saw the aide for her classroom she started jumping up & down screaming & squealing. I looked at Hunter & said "I guess she's happy to be here!"

While I'm a little sad that I don't have my little bebe anymore, part of me is so in awe of the big girl she's become. And I'm totally grateful for her having such a wonderful experience at this school! Enrolling her was definitely one of my better moves as a parent!!

On the knitting front I have to give a shout out to Tropical Storm Fay for providing me with so much knitting time this weekend! My Low Roll Sporty socks are almost done. I'm doing the foot this afternoon during rest hour & will possibly get to BO at knitting group tonight. The fit is lovely & I really do love Cascade Fixation. I'm hoping to pick up some more when we do our yarn shop field trip next month!

The things you learn on Ravelry

Today I learned that all those knitting patterns I've got on my computer can go on my ipod! Did you know this???

Apparently you enable disk use on your ipod (on itunes) which then allows you to save text documents (not word) to your ipod! No more carting around paper patterns or books! How 2008 is this?!!!

Despite my "aha" moment today I came to a sad realization. The baby blanket that I started in 2006 that was mentioned in the previous posts isn't workable. I printed out the pattern (prior to my aha moment!) & started to work on it while watching some Olympic baseball today. It was going to be my equivalent to when the figure skaters who have medalled do their showcase. Sadly, my showcase isin't going to happen.

Somehow the pattern isn't the same. I dont know where/how/why it happened. So it's in my knitting bag awaiting it's fate , possibly BO & use as a baby doll blanket or a dog crate liner for Libby. I've decided to CO another pair of socks for myself--Low-Roll Sporty from Knit Socks. I'm using some Cascade Fixation that I've had sitting around in my stash. After that I'm going to use up some Elann Esprit with a pattern that is, you guessed it, on my ipod!!

Olympic Gold & Silver!

Here is my Blue Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl as it is blocking on a beach towel in my closet.







And, the up close view. The yarn is knit picks Gossamer in Sweet Pea.









And my Yarrow Rib socks (Noro sock yarn)---finished this afternoon while watching men's field hockey on MSNBC (Germany & the Netherlands).


Tonight we have our Meet & Greet at the Wee One's school & then Hunter has to leave at o'dark thirty for his drive to Ft. Stupid (hey, I dont make this stuff up--it's what they call it) for his lasik consult. He'll have it done on Monday if they approve him tomorow.

So tomorrow my knitting project will be Cathy's rainbow baby blanket (feather & fan pattern) & hopefully I can get it done by Sunday night!

Quick update

My Lace Leaf Shawl is DONE! Finished. Complete!!! Can I get a Woo Hoo????

My socks are almost done--sock #2 is thisclose to me starting the toe decreases.

I found another UFO from *ahem* 2 years ago---it's my friend Cathy's rainbow baby blanket that for some reason (yarn texture? color?) didn't finish. My hope is to finish my socks tomorrow & then get going on the blanket. If I can get it done by Closing Ceremonies I'll be thrilled!

Pics will follow!!

Things you're supposed to love

You know how you're supposed to love something just because it's more expensive/exclusive/trendy/fabulous/insertdescriptivehere. But you wind up NOT loving it. That's how I'm feeling about some yarns lately.

My Noro sock yarn for one---totally seduces me with the gorgeous colors & the fact that it's NORO. We're supposed to ooh & ahh over Noro, right? I've worked w/the sock yarn, kochoran & kureyon. Honestly, I liked the kochoran---it was soft & knitted up nicely (it was a scarf) . The kureyon was used for felting projects because you HAVE to felt with it right? Wrong. Again, the colors are amazing but I didn't like how it felted at all. Suffice to say, I don't have any Noro in my stash. Sacrilege, I know!

Same goes for Cascade 220. I was less than impressed with it's felting. I've had better luck w/ Paton's Classic Merino & Araucania Nature Wool than the Cascade. It is soft, knits up well & has pretty colors but felting, eh.

I started the moss grid hand towel from MDK w/ Euroflax---hate it. I've started it before & for some reason couldn't get past the 3rd row. I figured it was the needle size & this time CO w/ larger needles (I've heard it "fulls" after washing & it's better that way). I've got the project on hold right now as I'm trying to finish my UFO's but couldn't get excited about it despite thinking how cute that towel would look in my kitchen.

On the UFOlympics front---my 1st sock is done!! I've finished the cuff & am onto the body of the 2nd. I have 4 1/2 repeats left on my shawl & the finishing so I'm really optimistic about that being done by the 24th!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Laurie & the Amazing Technicolor Dream Sock

My Yarrow Ribbed sock, that is. Started in March (or was it Feb?), left to sit in my knitting bag until I decided it would be a great UFO for the UFOlympics.

On Monday I worked on it at Monkey Joes while the Wee One played. It had been so long since I'd done socks that I forgot the fun of turning a heel!

Yesterday, I picked up the gusset stitches & for a brief second forgot how to do the gusset decreases & had to look back at the pattern. Now I'm about an inch & a half from starting my toe decreases.

The pattern is from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush & is easy. "Easy" means I don't need to constantly look at the pattern to remember the instep stitch pattern! The only thing I'm not liking is the yarn! It's Noro's sock yarn which I picked up at North East Fiber Arts Center in Williston, VT when I was home at Christmas. The colors are SO gorgeous & Noro sucks me in every.single.time with their colors. This yarn is well, hard feeling. Maybe rough is a better description. The socks are for me so hopefully they'll soften after being washed.

On to another topic---the Olympics. Why is it that all the good events (meaning the events I like) are on after 1030/11pm?? Hmmm? I don't need help staying up late, remember? Ive done that w/ Olympics past, Red Sox games (Hello! The '04 AL series against the Yankees?! The '07 AL series & World Series), various knitting projects, etc etc.

Monday night I got sucked into watching the men's gymnastics until 1230! The old me wouldn't have batted an eye at that time. She would have said "right, that's bedtime silly!" But the new me (meaning the more mature, hubby is home so we go to bed by 1030 now) says "no no, I HAVE to be asleep by 11! Sirens will sound if I'm not!"

Last night was the women's gymnastics team finals. I think you know me well enough to know I am all about all things girly. Figure skating, field hockey, dance, and obviously gymnastics. Geeky admission of the day: after Mary Lou Retton won the gold at the 1984 Olympics, I would do a cartwheel & round off off the bench at our field hockey games in imitation. Yes, I am a dork!

So I got smart last night & programmed the dvr to record the Olympics. HA! Take THAT NBC! You show the cool sports when I'm sleeping, fine! I'll watch it in MY time!

It's raining out today so no "guppy guppy" for the Wee One. She goes back to school in a week & a half so I'm trying to give her as much play-at-home time as possible. I'm hoping to get my sock done & CO for the mate.

And I'm off to look at the Olympics schedule so I find out when the field hockey games are being televised. (*Insert raspberry directed at programming execs here)

I'd like to thank the Academy

And Shawnee for my award. I'm expecting a swag bag much like the presenters & winners at the Oscars get. Thanks!

So the rules state that I, being the fabulous recipient of this auspicious award, must in turn nominate 7 other fabulous recipients. Those lucky bloggers must follow the rules, which are:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you’ve nominated

(humor me as hyperlinks aren't working for some strange reason & I dont' do html as it's embarrassing)

So without further ado, my nominees are:

1) Holly !
. She is the hostess with the mostess for our local knitting group, teaches Sunday School, doesn't mind that I bought the stash she was hoping to acquire when our AC Moore closed & has done some pretty neat projects!
http://yarntoknit.blogspot.com/

2) Robyn !
She's a mommy to two adorable boys, blah blah blah, amazing knitting, blah blah blah, and she lives in Montreal. Really, the Montreal part alone should nominate her. One day we'll meet up for a mocha mandarino at 2nd cup, work on some socks & leave w/ a tin of Cinnamints!
http://knitpurlknitpearl.blogspot.com/

3) Amanda!

Awesome projects, beautiful yarn for sale (check out her etsy shop!), sweet little boy, she's a New Englander & a Red Sox fan!

http://nhknittingmama.blogspot.com/

4) LeslieJ!

What would an awards show be without the ever-fabulous LeslieJ??? Sock knitter extrordinaire! Hockey Mom, a Spartan & preschool teacher. If only she wasn't a Tigers & Red Wings fan. . .

http://a-purse-a-day.blogspot.com/

5) LadyWy!

J wins this award based on her knitting & yarn & being a fantastic swap partner. Her DD is an impressive young lady & proof positive that J is an amazing mother!

http://theladywyvern.livejournal.com/

6) Cathy!

Cathy has been referred to as my knitting guru. Seriously, the woman taught me to do cables via IM. I think we've known each other for 7 or 8 yrs at this point. Truly one of the most prolific knitters I've known.

http://www.wishingiwasknitting.blogspot.com/

7) JoAnn! She's a Red Sox fan (yes, I am biased, shush), a fellow New Englander, great mommy, awesome grandmother & loves Disney Princesses & Disney on Ice as much as I do. Plus, I am jealous of her time on the Cape. And her knitting. And her time at Fenway.

http://capesoxknitter.blogspot.com/

Now that our awards are over, I am off to get ready to go to Monkey Joes w/ the Wee One. Last night was her last dose of anti-biotics & we're ready to get out of the house!!

Is it me?

Is it strange that I don't want to buy my 4 year old clothes with a skull & crossbones pattern??? I admit to loving all things pink & green, grosgrain, Muffy & her 1980's preppy handbook but come on. When she's a teenager & trying to be all rebellious THEN she can sport a skull & crossbones t shirt. But at age 4???

Let the games begin!

I'm signed up for the UFOlympics on Ravelry & my 2 "events" are my lace leaf shawl & my yarrow rib socks. Today I did a few rows on my shawl

The Wee One has strep throat. Ugh. Wednesday I knew something was up ---she refused iced cream, was fine with going to sleep during rest hour & was fine with coming in from the pool. When she'd been resting for a couple hrs I went in to check on her & discovered she was burning up (100.6 temp in the right ear, 102.6 in the left). A quick peek into her mouth showed bright red dots that covered the back of her mouth/throat. So I got her dressed, brushed her hair & off to the hospital we went.

Our hospital has a new clinic in the ER--it's designed for minor illnesses & is meanto get you in & out in a shorter period of time. We were in & out in 30 minutes. A new record!! 10 min. wait in the pharmacy for her z-pak & motrin and we were home bound.

And a hint to those parents out there whose kids won't touch pedialyte, gatorade etc---get the pedialyte freezer pops! She loves them! Had 2 yesterday & 2 today! I feel like I've pulled one over on her. VICTORY!!!!!

Yesterday I had renew my DoD id so we did that (I didn't let her breathe on anyone) & then to target for a new toothbrush for the wee one (again, dont breathe on anyone) then it was home for lunch & rest hr. Today we lazed around the house & rested. I worked on my shawl & fought the urge to CO a new project! I have 6 more rounds to finish the shawl. Then I'll work on my socks. It's a pretty easy pattern & I do like the yarn (noro sock) so those will be fun. Plus they're for ME! Just in time for cooler weather.

The French athletes are walking into the stadium for opening ceremonies. Their costumes are eh. The Poles look they're going to be bridesmaids at a casual wedding. I won't even discuss what the Finnish women had on. So sad. You know, the people who didn't make the team are home watching & pointing & laughing.

The US outfits are sort of yeah, well, yeah. I'm glad that Pres. Bush stood up---for a second he looked like it wasn't going to happen!

Not a lot planned for the weekend other than knititng, relaxing, hopefully a little back to school shopping for the Wee One & maybe a hair cut.

I'm looking forward to watchng the gymnastics, swimming/diving, soccer, track & field & field hockey. I remember one Olympics--Barcelona maybe, the field hockey was played at like 3am my time. I caught several games!!

The Wee One was a baby during the last Summer Olympics. She was 4 months old & would be doing tummy time or playing on the floor. If they wereshowing swimming, field hockey or soccer she would glue her eyes to the tv. It was bizarre. Only those sports, too. It'll be interesting to see what she likes this time.

Okay, the ambien is kicking in, so I am going to hop into bed!

Have a wonderful weekend!

GO USA!!!!

So yum!

This was our dinner tonight. So so so yummy! I used a lecreuset baking dish & skipped the foil. We also substituted provolone for mozzarella. Can you go wrong with pesto & cheese???


Baked Pesto Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup Pesto with Basil. (I used jarred pesto & possibly more than 1/2 cup)
2 plum tomatoes, sliced (optional)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.
2. Place chicken and pesto in medium bowl; toss to coat. Place chicken on prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Remove from oven; top with tomatoes and cheese. Bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings.