I know that I have been knitting too much (yes, that happens occasionally) when my back feels like it is on a rusty hinge. Generally, I sit in the same position on the couch, forgetting to keep both feet on the ground and moving about every now and then. The next morning, or whenever I get up for some water, my lower back feels like it is being held in place by a tiny screw that might fall out any moment. So, to make a long story short, my back could really use some WD40. Granted, there has been some knitting to speak of, but I always forget that this is the eventual outcome for a knitting binge.
Christmas was relatively low-key here at Chez Ava and flock. I guess that happens when your kids reach a certain age and their Christmas list comes complete with links and specifics. Don't get me wrong because I am very, very grateful to have the ability to sit at the computer, select PayPal, and be done with Christmas shopping before I head to knit night . . . but Christmas isn't the rushing quest to find the "IT" toy of the year . . . not when your list has boots and skinny jeans and Harry Potter sweaters on it. So other than the America's Next Top Model paper doll book and College Vegetarian Cooking (for next year), there weren't many surprises. The girls found the Flyer a Twin Peaks t-shirt (which he loves), and they bought me a bead for my bracelet (which I love). Dinner? I went low-key and pre-ordered from Boston Market . . . easy-peasy and didn't spend half the day cooking or cleaning. Plus, it made an afternoon showing of Sherlock Holmes a possibility.
So, the knitting you say? I spent a furious two days knitting part of Rambling Rows since I am teaching it as a class at the shop. I think that my New Year's resolution ought to be: no teaching of classes that you don't have a sample . . . no exceptions. For some unknown reason (cough, cough - knitting ADD), Rambling Rows was pushed on the back burner and then forgotten about - until the pot boiled over. My reading teacher is due in April with her first baby, so I decided to knit her a blanket and teach it as a class. That being said, after two days of knitting non-stop, I have a little less than half done. I can see how this gets kind of addicting, but I took it over to the shop (before real addiction could set in) so Joanne could put the sample in the case (and so I could buy some needles . . . too lazy to locate mine). I promised the Flyer some Beer Gloves over a year ago in Jackie's 9th Doctor colorway. I figured with David Tennant's run as the 10th Doctor coming to an end, I really ought to get the gloves done for my sweetie. Truly, they might have been the fastest knit that I've done in a while (photos next week . . . pinkie swear). After that, the only choice was to make something for me: Rose's Wrist Warmers partially because I love them and partially because it is so damn cold here . . . but not cold enough for a coat).
This post actually started off as a "Here's what I learned and loved about 2009" but somehow it morphed into pretty much just a post . . . hmmm. Well, here's what I learned and loved about 2009:
Have a Happy New Year! Stay safe and warm . . . and get some knitting in when you can.
Ava
I can't remember the last time I made a real solid Resolution. I always wish the normal stuff. You know, eat better, move more, be nicer, clean on a regular basis, stop losing my cool, use better grammar on the blog, etc. The normal stuff. But by 3 p.m. on 1/1, I've already eaten leftover cream cheese dip, I've lost my shit with someone, & I've probably used a double negative at least 3 times. So I've got nothing for 2010.
I'd like to say that I'll post more on a regular basis, but that's not going to happen. I'm realistic. I'd like to say that I'll finish more projects, but that's not going to happen. One goal but not a resolution (that might jinx it) for 2010 will be a Project 365. Travel over here for those pictures. I'll post some here too. I need to post something here, right?
2009 was a good one. No huge drama, but plenty of dramatic moments. Gus started his climb towards becoming a boy & not just a baby. Tuck continues to to show us how he's different from his brother. In 2010, someone is going to start school. Tell this to Gus & he reminds me that he's already in school, but you know what I mean. In 2010, I'm hoping that we ditch the diapers forever! That's it. My 2010 hopes & wishes. Fill in all the normal stuff too. Health. Happiness. Laughter. The good stuff! The real stuff! The stuff that doesn't need to be mention. School & diapers are just by-products of a good life.
Happy New Year to you & your family!
Lola
I have today & tomorrow off from work. My grand plan was to clean & donate toys. We've added about a thousand toys to this house in a week's period. We've taken nothing out of the house. I feel like cars, pirates, building supplies are forming an army & will soon take over. But what have I been doing on my Cleaning Day? Finishing Christmas gifts, Flickr, & playing Super Mario Bros. on the Wii. Fan-fucking-tastic.
I'd like to think that tomorrow you'll find me elbow deep in broken toys, but I'm afraid that won't be true. Here's a sample of my Christmas booty. I'm spoiled by my loved ones. You give my MIL a list & she fills it! I'll be fair, SK added about half the books. Tonight, you'll find me making Red Wine & Cheese bread. Dreaming of the chunky cable cardigan from "Men's Knits" & snuggled up on the couch reading "Within the Frame." I'm sure I'll be doing all of this while listening to the sounds of Mario trying to save the Princess.
I can hear some of you saying, "Why were you finishing Christmas gifts today?" I finished these a long time ago, but waited until the last minute to felt them.
Tsk. Tsk. They didn't felt small enough. I tried everything. Now they're part of our Halloween box. I ran out to our LYS & went with my ever faithful Cascade 220. And guess what?! The shit felted like a dream. Why do I stray? Granted, they look like the Pup has been nuzzling them for the past ten years, but I think the recipient will like them just how they are.
*And yes, I fell victim to the nuttiness of Bench Mondays on Flickr.*
I hope Santa was good to all of you. He sure was to us.
Just popping in to wish everyone a happy Christmas (and every other winter related holidays)! I finished a Koolhaas for a co-worked but neglected to take a photo . . . phooey. Hopefully I won't get coal in my stocking!
Love,
Ava (and Lola)
For the past couple of weeks, I've been trying out different slow cooker books. I love the idea of a Crock-Pot. I love how your house smells like someone has been cooking for hours while you were busy at the office. I love how you only have one pot to clean when you've finished dinner. But what I hate about a Crock-Pot wins every time I enter this fantasy. In the past, everything I dump into it comes out tasting like pot roast. Chicken with raisin. Pot Roast with raisins. Beef fajitas. Pot Roast fajitas. Soups & Chilies usually don't, but I don't feel like eating soup every night for dinner.
During the past couple months with my road schedule, I became determined to make my Crock-Pot work. It was going to be my bitch if it killed me. I'm happy to say, she's my bitch! After a couple of duds from the library, "Make it Fast, Cook it Slow" finally came in on off my reserve list. It looked promising. Lots of different dishes that didn't scream "Crock Pot Pot Roaster!" When I flipped to Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, I had to try it. First, I can't go vegetarian because of my love of chicken wings. It's true. Second, there's no way it could taste like Pot Roast. I've said this before & the Crock Pot proved me wrong. I was almost begging for the Frank's sauce to taste like Roast. The day came & I realized my current Pot was too small. I know believe that its size is the reason why a couple of my dishes failed in the past. With determination bubbling, I ran to Target & found a 5.5 quart oval pot. I got home just in time for the 4 hour cooking time. I began to layer & said a prayer.
I wish that I could show you a picture of the finished dish, but I can't. It was so good that it's gone. SK told me that night that he couldn't wait to eat it for breakfast. Which he did. Not a single hint of Pot Roast. Since the recipe was so yummy, I decided to try another from the book. Soup. Soup always turns out ok in a Crock Pot. "Ok" is key though. Nothing I'd rave about. Just soup. I made the Refried Black Bean soup for dinner. Again, our socks were blown off! How can she do it?! SK's dilemma at lunch was how to eat soup & lasagna in one sitting. He did it & I was jealous.
I usually get pissy when a blogger puts out a book & you can find all the recipes on their site. I tip my hat to Stephanie O'Dea. SK told me the night of Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, "You will have that book for Christmas."
L
I added a new category today called "Knitting ADD" because I have a bad, bad case of it. Kind of like having the yips but worse when it comes just in time for Christmas knitting. I can't seem to focus on anything knitwise, full stop. I started October Frost, love the pattern, love the yarn . . . and move on to something else. I start knitting on the Great American Afghan again . . . and move on to something else. I buy the yarn and hardware for four Brea bags . . . and move on to something else. Granted, the yarn is being used for hats and the hardware will go towards a bag that I owe someone whom I love more than anything, but still . . . this ADD thing is bad.
Since the trip to Philadelphia to see the girls, I've finished a few projects, but all of them were so fucking small that they hardly count (except the one thing that I don't have a photo of . . . grrr). My LYS celebrated its five year anniversary, and Joanne threw one hell of a party (with the assistance of Tricia and Maryann - thank you, ladies!). The mystery bag, now known as Patience (which I required lots of with all the garter stitch), was done the day before the party, felted, and blocked. The only thing to be done was to sew on a button. I couldn't get the needle through the hole in the button so I used my teeth to pull it the last little bit . . . and promptly chipped a tooth! What the hell?! Most knitting injuries involve punctures by sitting on a knitting needle; mine involve cracking the enamel on my tooth. And . . . Patience is the one project that I don't have a photo of. I guess it's still a virtue that I need to work on.
Most of my time these days has been spent trying to find knitting projects for my team members who are expecting babies (which would be for three of the six folks with whom I teach - stop procreating, people!). I started EZ's Baby Surprise, ripped it once, started again, and then threw in the towel for good. Sometimes walking away from EZ is the only answer that makes sense in the end. I cast on for Joelle Hooverson's Child's Placket Pullover (genius! easy! customizable! Thanks, Joelle!) in Eagles colors because the dad, who is my social studies' teacher) is a huge Eagles fan. Whenever I ask if he and his wife want any specific colors, his response is, "Eagles' green." Fine . . . Eagles' green it is. Hopefully it will fit in the fall when the season begins again. My reading teacher is expecting her first baby in April but won't find out the sex. She and her husband are getting a baby Rambling Rows in various colors . . . and I hope that she likes it. Our science teacher isn't due until June, so I have some time to figure out what to do for her. Suggestions?
So, that Brea bag issue? I made one (for me . . . not giving that away), but the other three aren't going to get done any time soon. I cast on for a hat last night and will be lucky to get them done in time for Christmas. Part of me is thinking of crafting a clever card with a hat on it, indicating that they will get the hats after the holiday break . . . part of me realizes that sleep really isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Part of me thinks I ought to call Mom. See, when the Brother was on meds for his ADD, he took Ritalin but the side effects were awful. Mom decided to take one just to see what all the fuss was about. "Ava!" she screamed into the phone one bright fall day, "I just cleaned the house in three hours. I took one of ______'s pills, and it really helped my focus." Or, and let's be frank here, it was medical speed. Looks like Mother's Little Helper has a name after all.
Off to knit some hats . . . these things aren't going to knit themselves,
Ava
PS - I also knit a lovely pea green thong for a friend who was having surgery, taking extra care to choose a silk bamboo blend so as to not chafe the naught bits. Nothing says, "Get Well Soon!" like a hand knit thong. And damn, I don't have pictures of that either.
My week has been cut short by sick little Tuck. He's been running a low-grade fever since Monday night. I didn't really feel like driving to Cleveland tomorrow morning anyway. We're getting smacked by some nasty winds which means that Cleveland is probably getting smacked by an awesome snow storm. I could be wrong, but I don't care.
I've been reading two books with horrible titles. I want to wrap them in book covers just so I can read them on my own couch & not feel dirty. Problem is they're good books. The titles suck. First one is Visual Poetry by Chris Orwig. The book lives up to it's New Age-y name & is littered with poetry references. There are days when that's exactly what I need. A very touchy & ethereal feel to get my juices going. I bought the book because I thought it would help focus my Photography (that sounds so silly to me). I want to produce better pictures. Not to sell, but to remember when I'm a crotchy old broad. The first 4 chapters focus on creativity, poetry (duh), vision, & technique without preaching. The remaining chapters are workshops for Portraits, Children, Weddings, Travel, Actions, Found Objects. I read straight through until I got to the Weddings chapter. At this point of the book, I'll skip around. This is when I felt the book was talking only to Professionals. And I got sad again. I wish there was a book that spoke just to people that look at Photography as a hobby. Visual Poetry isn't a bad book at all! There were parts that I read to SK & said, "That's what I've been trying to explain to you." I'll skip the Wedding section, reread the Kids Chapter, & pick up where I left off. I'm asking SK for Within the Frame for Christmas. I flipped through it & had to force myself to put it back. I think that book might be my answer.
Second horrible book title is Personal Footprints. Don't you expect to find it sitting next to Sylvia Brown's latest? (I ever tell you I was obsessed with her in college? I used to skip class to watch her on Montel.) The full title is Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi. Still?! "Personal Footprints" is written real big on the top, so that's what people see. Ava tried to explain how the new book constructs a sock. I couldn't figure out what the hell she was talking about, but one flip of the book & I got it. You'd think there could only be a couple of ways to knit a sock. I did. Top down. Top up. Afterthought heels. Oh there's more! Knit the whole foot with a lifeline where the leg will pop out. Cut between the lifelines & knit your leg. Fancy indeed, but still a shitty title. Another huge plus of the new Bordhi way, no gauge swatch. You make a cut-out of your foot & try the sock on the cut-out. Sure, I might look silly sitting in the BMV trying a sock on a "foot" from an old cereal box. People might call me "Crazy". But at least I won't be doing it barefooted while waiting for a new license photo. I was called "Dirty" for that one. And she had no business throwing stones.
Lola
p.s. Here's a quick shot of what's going on inside our home for the past couple days.
