2 Days to Halloween Eeeek!

Normally, I love Halloween but this year I'm having trouble getting into the spooky spirit of Halloween. I had the good intentions of making my oldest son's costume (natuarally, he wanted a dinosaur outfit, again) and I did try, even to the point of having all the pieces cut out and ready to sew but alas, I ran out of time as his daycare party was on Monday. I ended up putting the little one in a dinosaur costume that I made two years ago and Mr G, the oldest wore his costume from last year, a lion. Unlike last year, he was loving the lion costume, wouldn't take it off. I was extremely relieved but as I have found in other years, when your kids are this young (1&3) Halloween is for the parents and adults and not so much for the kids. We will be taking them trick or treating early but just to a couple neighbours who just want to see the boys and then spend the rest of the evening winding them down off the sugar high (since they don't have sugar often, one piece of candy sends them zooming) and distributing goodies to all the other ghouls and ghosts in the neighbourhood. So I guess all in all this Halloween won't be so bad but I still feel lacking in spirit about it. Here's to next year.

Lace Sucks!

I have given up on my attempts at lace work for the moment. I tried knitting the Moonlight Sonata Shawl in Diamond Baby Alpaca Lace and frogged it 4 times before I was even finished the collar. Then I decided that I was using the wrong yarn for the project as the pattern is written for a fingerweight rather than a lace weight. I switched to a fingering weight from Yarn Treehouse. Only had to frog this twice on the collar but it went much better than the alpaca. Then the fun began as I started the body of the shawl. Frogged back to the collar 4 times before deciding that lace is not something that I can do right now. I do not have the ability to concentrate or the patience to do lace with two toddlers running around. Thus goes my first attempt at lace. I will try again when life is not so hectic.

A "Fall Day" in Manitoba

Fall is the best time of year for me. I love it that time when the leaves change colour but haven't fallen. Apples are really red and sweet due to the cooler temperatures at night. Carrots and potatoes from the garden taste amazing. We have been having incredible weather, sunny and kinda warm during the day and cooling off at night. I find this is always a time of generosity, be from thanksgiving or harvest, neighbours are always dropping things off (jams or perserves or late veggies from their gardens). I love turkey and this is also the season of all the fall suppers in the small towns in southern Manitoba. Yummy!

Why does play time come at 1:30am!!

My youngest son has decided that he would rather play at 1:30am than sleep. I have tried everything in parenting arsenal to get him back to bed short of giving him a shot of brandy. He always seems to know when mommy needs to get sleep and that is night he chooses to be awake for half the night. Aaaaagggggghhhh!
I finished my Molly Weasley sweater although I'm not completely happy with it. Took many hours longer than I had hoped. I think it's incredible ugly but I think it was suppose to be.
I have started the Moonlight Sonata Shawl. I will be exchanging this at Christmas in my work's gift exchange. I finished the collar, hopefully everything else goes smoothly. (Only frogged 4 times so far).

Too Much Turkey

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Had my fill of turkey, at least for a little while. I finished my son's new touque using the ravelry pattern Ogre, my Ogre. Nice simple knit but would use a thicker yarn in the future. I did double strand the Paton's Classic Wool but I still think the stitches are too loose. Now I have to make one for the other son as he keeps stealing it. Still working on my sweater for Halloween between making the costumes for the boys and starting school. Good thing I don't sleep or I would never find the time. lol.

My next project I believe is going to be a lace shawl. This will be my first real attempt at lace work and will be using Diamond's Baby Alpaca lace. I have also just order more Alpaca for my FIL's christmas present. He is always cold so I figure a nice alpaca sweater will warm him up. Still trying to think what else I can make for Christmas presents. I guess I should get them started real soon.

Coffee

Just enjoying my morning coffee. Home with my sons today and then going to knit night this evening. Must figure out what to take. Need something simple, to much pattern is not good as I tend to get distracted.

Started my Molly Weasley sweater, trying to use as many yarns from my stash as possible. So far so good, I'm up to 12 different ones and I'm only 1/3 done the sleeves. Totally improvising the design. The body of the sweater is knitted with the sleeves done in croshet. Being very careful not to over do it with the crochet. Don't want to have to spend the rest of the month recuperating my hands.

October Assignments

So the Harry Potter House Cup Oct. assignments have been posted and I'm having a lot of problems deciding what to make. I don't want to have to buy anymore yarn because 1. on a budget right now, preparing for Christmas and 2. I have a honking huge stash. But some of the assignments are requiring things I don't have such as dyeable yarn. Guess I will go stare at the stash some more and hope inspiration finds me.

Amazing Autumn Coffee Swap The Questionaire

Questionnaire
About Your Yarn Passion
1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? I do both!
When did you first learn? I have been crocheting for over 20 years and I learned to knit a year and a half ago
2. Do you like using a particular type of needle or hook? (wood, metal, straight, circular) If I'm using straight needles or dp needles, I like wood or bamboo but for larger items such as sweaters I love addi Turbos.
Is there something you've been wanting to try, or a particular size you always seem to be short on? I'm always using sp 3.75mm and dp 2.75mm and 3mm.
3. What kind of projects do you enjoy making? Any types you just haven't ever gotten into as much as others? I have become addicted to socks and sock yarn. I love handdyed or handpainted sock yarn.
4. What's on your needles\hook right now? I'm currently working on a bamboo scarf for a Christmas present which is also doubling as a homework assignment for the Harry Potter Knit/Chrochet House Cup.
What's your oldest UFO (unfinished object)? I have two winter sweaters that have been in hibernation since the spring. One just needs to be sewn together and the collar knit on, the other, I hate the pattern, it's very, very boring to knit.
5. If you were going on vacation tomorrow, what project(s) would travel with you? Socks
6. What are your favorite types of yarns? I love very soft merino, bamboo, and most any natural fibres.
Any you're allergic too, or just hate working with? I'm not a big fan for eyelashy novelty yarns or mohair.
Anything in particular you've been dying to try? SWTC tofootsies which is not available at my lys's
7. What sort of colors do you love in yarns? I love blues, purples, and greens.
Brights? Big bold colours.
Pastels? If I use pastels, I usually use pink, purples or aquas.
More muted colors? Not much into neutrals, I like colour!
Variegated? Love it.
Are there any you can't stand? I hate orange!!!
Your Coffee Passion1. Do you prefer caffeinated or not? Caffeinated or decaf doesn't matter.
2. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean, my DH bought me a grinder for my Birthday.
For what type of pot or press? Regular filter coffee maker
3. What types of roasts do you enjoy? I like dark, bold roast.
Are you more the light and lively or dark and robust type? dark and robust.
4. How do you 'take' your coffee? Creamers? Sweetener? double cream one sweetner
Other add ins? Vqnilla or caramel syrup.
5. That first morning cup - is it about the taste, or the caffeine? Both
6. Do you enjoy going out to coffee shops like Starbucks? My second home.
What are some of your favorites? I love the Starbucks in our local bookstore, Also Caribou Coffee Fireside is my absolute favorite but unfortunately there are no stores in my city.
7. You've just made the perfect cup of coffee - is it in a thick mug, or a thinner cup? Big thick ceramic mug.
Where would you sit to drink it?either at the computer or in my easy chair while I knit.
8. You're enjoying that perfect cup, and have a magic cabinet in your kitchen - when you open it, magically, your favorite treats will appear to enjoy alongside the coffee - what are they? Are they sweet? Crunchy? Soft and flaky?All about YOU! Spicey ginger cookies or a big gooey carmel/chocolate brownie
1. Do you have other hobbies like spinning or scrapbooking? I have recently started spinning on a drop spindle.
2. Do you collect anything? Right now, wool, I love chinese-print fabrics, I haven't made anything with them yet but I have collected several.
3. What is your favorite part of Autumn? going outside with no misquitoes
4. What sort of scents do you enjoy? Any difference in what you like for your house versus what you like for your body? I am highly allergic to scented products.
5. Are you allergic to anything? beside scents, I am allegric to tobacco smoke and bees stings
6. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID? my ravelry id is missreb
7. How would you spend an ideal fall afternoon/day? knitting and talking on ravelry

Second Month of Classes

Here I am, anxiously awaiting the posting of the second month of classes in the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup. I'm kinda of playing with the idea of trying to fit socks into every catagory. I started knitting socks a couple months ago, and they are right. Knitting Socks is totally addicting. Today is also the start of the Crystal Palace knit along. This will be my first KAL and I'm very excited about knitting with Panda Silk. I only have one ball of it but it feels sooooo nice.

Last night, I started a bamboo scarf. I'm knitting it in the round using a dimple stitch. Unfortunately, I wasn't really paying attention when I started and ended up having a twist in it. So I frogged it and started over. Never begin a new project that requires concentration at a Knit Night.

Wake up time comes way to early when you're up this Late!

Suffering from insominia again! Can't understand why on the nights that my youngest sleeps (18mths and teething) I can't fall asleep but on the nights he's screaming, I'm dead on my feet.

A little about myself. I'm married to a wondeful man and we have two sons, the previously mentioned 18mth old and a three year old. I work in the office of a daycare centre. I have been crochet for over 20years but have pretty much stop because of pain in my hands. I took up knitting just after the arrival of my youngest son and have been knitting up a storm. I just learned to spin using a drop spindle about two weeks ago and having a blast with that.