“Heartfelt” Rings and decorating the tree

Posted on December 19, 2011 by cpeezers

School is out! I’m having fun knitting again. I’ve got about 8 million things going right now. It’s a little ridiculous. I finished a couple of small things though.

I am having fun playing with these “heartfelt” rings created by Stephanie Dosen of Tiny Owl Knits. She is also the creator of the hexi-puff – for the beekeeper’s quilt. One of my many ongoing projects. I don’t have enough hexi-puffs yet for even a baby doll quilt. But I will eventually.

So anyway. She put up a free pattern and some fun videos to go with the pattern that explain how to make the rings. They are very easy to make. You can make one in less than half an hour. Here is what one looks like pre-felting (she puts hearts on hers. I did too, but on the opposite side of the ring, I attempted to put a letter.)

I have made these with Knit Picks Palette wool. It felts so fast. I learned some great tips from her about felting though. She explained that you can felt better with wool that is damp and not soaking wet. Felting mistake number 1 I had been making. I’d pretty much been holding it under the water.

Second, she said that a light constant touch – here lightly rolling it around in my hands – works better than a heavy handed touch. Felting mistake number 2 for me – I’d basically been beating the crud out of my objects and I held them under hot water and then periodically rotated them into cold water to “shock them”.

I know these rings are very small, but they felted almost instantly, and so I wonder if following her guidelines didn’t help me.

I’m still working on making my letters look right felted.

The rings are very fun though, and such a nice way to use up some of my knit picks stash. It’s also good practice for shaping felted objects. Here is a finished one on my finger.

We decorated the tree the other night. It was a lot of fun. David is kinda doing a “joking focused” in this picture, but he does go off into that artist side of his brain as he decorates the tree.

Davey had a lot of fun “playing” the guitar ornament. He found it pretty hilarious.

I’m also about done with a cowl. It’s neat and I’ll blog about it as soon as I finish and take some pictures. It is all seed stitch. I used to really complain about seed stitch. K1 P1 over and over seems kind of tedious, but I have grown to really like it. It’s very soothing. I also love how the stitch pattern looks, and how it gives the yarn a nice “squishy feel”. I will say that I am doing it on size 15 needles, and this does make my wrists sore after awhile, so I take breaks from it.

I’m also working on the Advent Calendar Scarf. It’s December 19th. I am on December 2nd. Day 2. oh well.

Speaking of December 19th. Tomorrow is my birthday. I am going to be 44. David is 44, and Davey is 4. Bunch of fours in this house! Koko is 15 so that doesn’t quite work. Except, 5-1 = 4 so there you go!

At the Home Depot

Posted on December 15, 2011 by cpeezers

I feel a little like a Home Depot advertisement, but I wanted to blog about the Kid Workshops we have now gone to a couple of times. Davey loves them.

Home Depot has the Kid Workshops the first Saturday of each month. We went for the first time in November. Davey got an apron which he thought was just the coolest.

Each month he gets another project pin to put on the front of his apron. Another awesome thing for Davey. He was checking out the other kids, some of whom had like 20 pins on the fronts of their aprons.

The best thing about this is that Davey does this with Daddy. I suppose I might be allowed to participate one of these times, but it’s a real fun daddy/davey thing.

Right now, David guides Davey through much of the project. This particular project was a snowman napkin holder. I think it involved a screwdriver, paint and some stickers.

Guess who else was here?

Home Depot Santa. Davey has talked to about 4 Santas so far now, but he was feeling a little bashful on this day. He didn’t want to engage with Home Depot Santa.

I think this is going to be our new monthly Saturday morning event. It’s really a cool thing. It’s free, and the Home Depot people who run the workshops are so friendly and helpful with the kids.

Oh and finally – notice what David is wearing? He really likes The Sweater! 🙂

Goofy family photo below:

The Adventures of Wee Tot

Posted on December 11, 2011 by cpeezers

Ever since Davey was a baby we’ve had nicknames for him. They have included “The Little Elf, “Little Buddha” and one that has stuck is “Wee Tot”.

So Wee Tot. Lately, David has started telling Davey stories which are titled “The Adventures of Wee Tot”. They began as stories that were really about David as a little boy with a little Davey mixed in. Lately they have evolved into Wee Tot the Superhero.

Little Wee Tot battles all the greats including Sandman, Abomination, Riddler, the Blob, and Juggernaut. The battle always ends with a trip to jail with Wee Tot as their escort. Wee Tot’s career as a superhero began one day when he was shopping with his mom in Hot Springs. While looking around the store, they came across a very special cape. This cape gave Wee Tot special powers. He can fly and he has super strength. Basically he has the powers of Superman.

Every day, Davey says to me, “I wonder what the Wee Tot story will be tonight?” Our bedtime routine includes reading a few books and then it is time for the Wee Tot story. Last night Incredible Hulk helped Santa Claus deliver presents. Somehow, Wee Tot had the foresight to know that this was a possibility, so he’d left iced green Christmas cookies for the Hulk. Wee Tot knew that Hulk had enjoyed the cookies because in thanks, he left a scrap of purple cloth under the plate.

The other day, we were at the rec center and I heard Davey introducing himself to another little boy. He said, “Hi my name is Davey, but you can just call me Wee Tot”.

Here Wee Tot is trying to help me yell the squirrels out of the bird feeder.

I am thankful for Davey and his Daddy’s big imaginations.

“Santa Here? I Know Him!”

Posted on December 6, 2011 by cpeezers

Friday night we went to the tree lighting ceremony in Broomfield. It was a cold evening, but we got all bundled up to go because Santa was going to be there.

Not only was Santa there, but he made a dramatic entrance which Davey loved. Santa arrived via helicopter.

Davey kept his eyes glued on the sky.

He said, “I think Santa will remember me from the other day!” (He had spoken with Santa just a few days earlier at Walmart.) But then, he thought about it, and he said, “but I’m not sure that was the REAL Santa.”

After Santa landed, we got in line so that Davey could talk to him. Luckily Santa went inside to talk to the kids.

Davey climbed right up onto his lap and began an earnest request. “Santa, for Christmas I want a Dragon Castle. NOT the ninja one!” (He has the ninja one. He likes it a lot, but it’s the dragon castle, that he really wants.)

It was cold. Check out the red-nosed me.

And then we went on a hayride. We about froze, but Davey loved it. Then he wanted to wait in line for free donuts. I gave in with the hope that he’d quickly grow weary of it. Thankfully, he did!

Christmas time with Davey. The joy of a 4 year old. He told me today that his favorite time of the year is Christmas. I told him it was mine too. He said, “But Mommy, all you get for Christmas are shirts and stuff. I get toys!” True I guess, but he doesn’t know that I had a great time making a wish list on knitpicks today!

One more picture of our cold night. I like this picture of David.

We’re making Christmas cookies today. Time to go frost. Davey is the designated sprinkler!

The Grey Shawl

Posted on December 1, 2011 by cpeezers

Back around June, I started knitting some patterns as a test knitter for a book a friend of mine is co-writing. The finished projects will be photographed and the pictures will be included in this new book. So I was (still am) excited to participate.

I knit two hats which are awesome hats, and I can’t wait to be able to show pictures.

Then there was the shawl. The grey shawl. I loved (still do) the idea of a lace shawl out of a bulky weight yarn. We used Knit Picks yarn for this, and I really like this grey color.

I blocked the shawl yesterday. It took me 5 months to work my way through this process.

There were a few problems along the way. I was test knitting the pattern, so it was natural that there might be a few kinks to work out with the pattern. The problem with me was that I am still gaining confidence with knitting lace and so when I ran into a problem, I didn’t really know how to diagnose it. Fortunately my friend Susan (who is co-writing the book) patiently helped me several times.

For awhile, it was one step forward two steps back. I messed up on the double decrease which has to be done right to look right in the pattern. There were a couple of other things along the way. I have forgotten the specifics (or blocked them out). It’s probably better that way.

For the final part of the shawl, I had to knit the border. I had to pick up stitches all the way around the shawl. So by the time I had them all picked up all the way around on my circular needles, I figured (assumed – never good) I would be just knitting round and round. I did a few rounds, and then I looked at the picture that Susan had sent me of the border of the original shawl. The pattern had a garter stitch not stockinette. I really glared at that shawl then. I may have thrown it down the stairs into the basement.

But then I realized it’s about the process (yes, that’s what I always tell myself) and I tinked back to the beginning of the border. Then I did back and forth rows. Then I bound off. And then – I blocked it.

And I learned another valuable lesson. The things that are not the easiest can bring the most reward. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of a project. I draped it around me and immediately took a picture. (I love the feel of that bulky weight shawl – but it still is very open and lacy). I’m grinning like crazy in that pic.

It’s one of the prettiest things I have ever knitted.

I gained lots more confidence in knitting lace.

I learned to calculate and adjust as needed to make the pattern work!

I learned about a different type of shawl construction.

I learned a new really cool stretchy bind-off.

I can’t post any pictures yet, but here’s just a little piece of it:

Today I am starting a new knitting adventure. It’s the Christmas Advent Calendar Scarf. It’s a knit along on Ravelry. It’s lace and I am using some Jojoland light fingering wool that I bought back in Arkadelphia. I’ll post some pictures in the next few days after I get it going. I don’t know if I will be able to keep up with the daily clues, but I’ll give it a try!

So that’s knitting. I’m working on way too many projects, but I have declared a yarn buying moratorium until I finish some of the projects. (Of course, I might make certain exceptions).

It’s snowing like crazy here today. Davey and I ran to the store this morning, but we are staying put for the rest of the day. We got out and shoveled this morning. It was my first time to shovel snow. That’s some kind of good exercise.

This afternoon we will make soup and a pumpkin cake. I let Davey pick out the recipe. I think his choice was based on the photograph which shows a thick white glaze on the cake. I got a new cookbook the other day (thanks again to my friend Shawna!) which should help me bake better at this higher altitude. It’s called Pie in the Sky. It is really neat because the author tested all of these recipes at about 4 different altitudes and then adjusted the recipes accordingly. I’ve not had the greatest luck baking here, so I am very much looking forward to trying it out!

Davey’s Big Weekend!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by cpeezers

Davey had a high time this weekend! On Saturday, he attended his first birthday party. He could not wait for his friend to open his present.

He also very much enjoyed having birthday cake icing. I think he found a kindred spirit as I’m not sure his friend ate any cake either.

His cousin, Addie, was also here all weekend. Davey was very happy about this.

They had great fun playing together.

They had a great time jumping.

I love to take trampoline pictures. Even blurry ones.

They really got after it!

Davey and I also made our first batch of Christmas cookies.

Davey had a two-handed sprinkle method going.

I figured out how to use the timer on our camera, so I’ve been having fun with that (even though the photographic quality has not always been stellar)!

I’m not sure what Addie and Davey were doing here. It involved a very fun game which included throwing play food at something. They were very absorbed in this game.

We tried for a group picture, but Davey was not thrilled about more pictures. (I can’t imagine why!)

Thanksgiving 2011

Posted on November 25, 2011 by cpeezers

It was a great Thanksgiving spent with friends.

Davey, as usual, had a wonderful time with Olivia. When we arrived, Davey and Olivia mixed up all the ingredients to make vanilla ice cream.

Davey stirred first, but he was quite delicate about it. Olivia had to show him how to really get after it! Davey found this pretty funny.

Davey and Olivia had a special kid’s table for two.

They enjoyed this very much! Although Davey’s Thanksgiving dinner consisted of 3 rolls and some of the vanilla ice cream that he had a part in making.

Here we are.

Then Olivia and Davey wanted to have their picture taken together.

Our second Thanksgiving in Colorado – thankful to be here!

Sunday

Posted on November 20, 2011 by cpeezers

It’s Sunday morning. Davey is playing some Hero Up on the computer with David. I’m writing my online class. It’s about American southern literature in the 20th century. It’s been a big challenge. At first I was overwhelmed and I didn’t know where to begin. I somehow overcame this, and I am now well into the writing of the course. It’s actually been very good for me. I realized that I don’t write formally much anymore, but I grade formal papers all the time, so it’s good for me to write as well.

As I write, I have the Pandora Country Christmas station playing on my computer. I know it’s a little early, but I love the Christmas season.

Before we can get too carried away with Christmas though, we will concentrate on being thankful! We will spend Thanksgiving with our friends. Davey will be reunited with Olivia, his 4 year old friend. He will be very thankful for this.

It’s chilly out this morning.

I need to go to the store soon and get ingredients to make the Pioneer Woman tortilla soup that we like so much. I’ll try to get Davey to go along with me so that David can work a little on the online typography class that he is writing.

I worked on writing letters with Davey this morning. He will deny to the extreme that he knows what they are. He wrote an H for me without any prompting, but then he got kind of upset about it. He likes being little and something about learning his letters means getting big to him, so right now he does not want to admit to knowing any letter beyond X and O. That’s ok. There’s no rush.

I guess it’s time to get back to work.

Gotta have one pic though. I’ve been having too much fun with instagram on my phone. Here’s Davey posing for me.

The day to day

Posted on November 17, 2011 by cpeezers

Monday through Wednesday always seem to just disappear. And then it’s Thursday and I realize that I have not blogged since Sunday, and that just bugs me. (If I look back at the past few weeks, I probably repeat nearly the same thing every Thursday).

We had an early snowstorm a few weeks ago that took lots of limbs off the trees, so “we’ve” been cleaning that up (My part has been minimal, although David has left a few final piles of leaves for me).

Koko enjoys spending time in the yard with us. She is 15 and 3/4 now. She’s hanging in there.

Davey was not much more help to Daddy then I was. He got out his car which he received as a birthday gift when he turned 1!! He uses it as a step stool to the trampoline these days I think.

It was a nice enough day out that he could enjoy some trampoline jumping. He didn’t clear those leaves on the trampoline either. But I think they added some nice crunch to his jumping.

Davey tells me that he wants to be a photographer when he grows up. He pronounces it “Photo Grapher” which I love. He took this picture of me. I had just gotten home from a 4 mile walk/run which was the most exercise I’d done in awhile. I’m looking pretty rough, but I like this picture because he took it.

The little Photo Grapher has also been enjoying painting too. He is very abstract. I think he is just enjoying the feeling of putting the paint on the paper, which I agree is very fun.

Final Fall Soccer Game: Blown off the Field

Posted on November 13, 2011 by cpeezers

Yesterday was Davey’s last soccer game for the fall. The previous two games had been cancelled due to snow on the field. So we had a final make-up yesterday.

For the past couple of days, we have experienced crazy crazy wind. When we went to soccer yesterday morning, it was gusting up to 50 miles per hour.

Davey liked pretending that he was going to be blown away.