Another one bites the dust.........

Yup- I am now getting ready for the last PA Day of the season. There will be meetings most of the day, a bit of cleaning up at the end (might have to go back next week for the rest of that), but otherwise- that's it! The Grade 8s cried when they left yesterday- they were the "Dream Team"-a real powerhouse of kids. And my class got a bit weepy as well-as I knew they would. But now I get to stay home! And paint! And knit! And swim in the pool! (that is, I will swim in the pool when we decide to put the solar heating in, or until it gets really warm in the nights- i do like me a warm pool).
Off I go-more later-

Ler's count now......

How many sleeps left until all of those kids go home for the summer.....??????????? Tomorrow is Wednesday and then it is Thursday...............................YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

well, well, well

Yes, a deep story. The report cards are in-I am waiting for them to be proofed and then returned. And I really tried to go out for KIP day- had my bag packed and everything. BUT, a friend of Annie's wanted to go out to the movies, and I was called upon to be the driver. Sooo- I didn't get to go. But I was there in spirit!
The kids at school are driving me batty. But summer is coming. Soon. But not soon enough!!!!
I have been working away at the sweater (from Ole- see a few posts back) But there are problems with it- the top is not doing well at all. I don't know- I might have to can this particular pattern- it is just not right! I wonder if there is an errata up somewhere- I should go and look.
More pictures later-

I'm DONE!

No more flippin' report cards until next year! Yippee!!!!!!! I still have 2 more weeks of school left (the high school kids are done as of today). Man- I do not much like writing those damn things. BUT they are over-for now. So for now, I am going to take my knitting bag


and my LaFuma chair and go sit out on the deck and knit for awhile.


Until Mr. Lightning arrives.

Attention K Mart Shoppers....

We interrupt this rather spotty blog to announce that Deb is currently in the throes of report card writing. Anyone with a fool proof plan to get through them without crying, screaming or drinking heavily, are invited to submit their ideas to the comments section. We will resume regular programming when the damn things have been put to bed. And so, we bring you, King Bear, Ruler of every little bunny and squirrel and duck he finds in his backyard, Emperor of All That Is Fun And Silly In His World, and Provider of the Best Giant Poodle Snuggles in the Known Universe.

All Hail King Bear!

My new project

This is a sweater from the new "More Big Girl Knits" book- I just LOVE it!!!!! The designer is Tara Jon Manning, and it is just a wonderful design. The yarn called for (Crystal Palace Creme) I did not have access to, so I went into Wool Tyme (here in Kingston) and found what will probably be my new base yarn (to me, a base yarn is one that I use to design with-my other one is Fleece Artist Silk Stream-it always looks great). Anyhow, this one is Stahl Ole. 51%Pima cotton and 49% fine merino. It actually reminds me a bit of Rowan Wool Cotton (another fave) but without the price tag (this is very reasonable). Ole has similar yardage to the Wool Cotton (difference of a metre I think) I can't seem to find it on the net- but trust me- a really wonderful yarn. It would work for kids' clothes, as well as adults. The colour I bought is a rich magenta pink- with a touch of purple in it instead of the "too bright" tone it sometimes gets. Anne had a pink (like a bright one) and a purple in stock. It has a really nice "hand" to it.

Anyhow, the deal with the sweater is that you knit the band sideways, then pick up stitches on either long side to knit the top (bodice) and the bottom (skirt). Since I am bigger on top, I am knitting the larger size for the top (I just knit the smaller size for the band, picked up the stitches for the smaller size for the top, then increased in the bustline area, with a few more centre back, to make up the stitch count for the next larger size). And then the skirt part will be the smaller size, not adaptations- except maybe length. We'll see.

Off to the Quilt Show with Mom- Ta!

Just in......

Anne Woodall, over at Wool Tyme in Kingston, has just confirmed that the Harlot will be here, in Kingston, on June 4th at the local Chapters. Anybody care to join me in a Harlot sighting??? What will I wear? What will I knit????????

Joseph and Beast, and another Beast (Bear)

Ahhhhhh! Victoria Day Weekend! This is when you are supposed to put in your new plants, and do the yard work and go to all the yard sales (maybe have one of your own). That would suppose it would be warm enough, and dry enough, to do all of those things. This morning, when I got up, it was only 6 degrees Celsius!!(That would be about 42 degrees Fahrenheit for the non metric). And rainy. In fact, it has been rainy all weekend. So I have used this opportunity to do, well, very little. AHHHH! I do love a holiday!
Om Friday night, the whole family went out to the local production of "Beauty and the Beast". It was put on by the Kinsmen, in the newly renovated Grand Theatre. I had a BLAST!
Which brings us to another theatrical extravaganza..............
Last week, the Grades 4 to 8 students at our school just put on a performance of "Joseph and the Technicoloured Dream Coat". It was pretty awesome. This is the backdrop I came up with. Initially, the director wanted something all beige and cream coloured sand. I talked her out of it when I asked her if the pale students in the mostly white costumes would show up against that backdrop. So I got my way, pink sky and all! To put on a spring show was an awful lot of work, and I am getting very worried about the math part of the EQAO testing for my Grade 6s (I teach a split 6/7). So, for the rest of the month, I am going to teach mostly math and language to them, and then after the test, I will teach the social studies and science. I just hope it all works out!!!!!!!!


And Bear is always around to give me a giggle and a good dose of reality. Her he is with his "lips"-basically a set of stuffed lips with teeth and a tongue and a squeaky. He runs around here with it stuck in his mouth, and I know he thinks he is damn cute (which he is) because he goes out of his way to come right up to you and make "huff, huff" sounds (which I think means laughter). Bear is coming along well- in fact, last week he did something he has never ever done before. I was out in the front yard with him, and a friend drove up to the drive and stuck his head out of his car to chat. Bear got in between the car and me, and barked!!!!! He has never EVER protected me before (usually he will bark, but from the relative safety of behind my skirt!) So he is coming along well. He still won't eat if I am in the kitchen (he WILL however, stand there, drooling furiously, but I guess I am his "alpha", since he expects me to go to the food first and then decide to (if?) leave him some.) So I usually have to go to the living room or dining room and sit down for him to start to eat. Hmmmm.
And this is supposed to be a knitting blog, right????? Okay-I have been knitting-but I can't seem to settle down to do one thing, or finish anything. So when I finally do something worthwhile and worth showing-I will let you know. I did get Cat Bordhi's new sock book. Amazing feats of engineering, those socks. And so very, very tempting.............

New Spring Colours

I was cruising around the blogs and found a reference to the new spring colours. A bit of searching and voila! The new colours. Hmmmm. There are three colours I can wear in the lot- the rose, the olive green and the dark slate. That's it.

It's going to be a LOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGG season.

Good thing I wear what I like, not necessarily what is in style! It is just difficult if I need to go and buy an outfit if the colours are locked in to what is "stylish".

Added later: LISA!!! I am so sorry- I forgot to add your name to the lovely ladies of Montreal!!!!! (serves me right for being interrupted-by my 10 year old- repeatedly-so I lost what I was doing) No excuse though-you are one of the lovelies of the Montreal Guild!!!!

A relationship meme

From Steph, at "A Little Bit of Happy"
Relationship meme
1. Where did you meet? Well, we first met at his sister's wedding, but he was with a , um, person of questionable integrity (okay- tramp. I said it) so I didn't stick around. But then, a year or two later, his parents, who were friends of mine, invited me over to supper, and then got their coats on and left me with him! (he was trampless at that point) 2. How long did you date?Officially? Two weeks before we got engaged. Then engaged for 6 months. Then married.3. How old is he? 46. Yup, younger than me (of course, I am only thirty nineteen, but...) 4. Who eats more? Him. 5. Who said “I love you” first? Simple- he did, but not from my lack of hinting.6. Who is taller? He is 6 foot 2. I am a Shetland pony. 7. Who sings better? Well, I think I do, but he plays a mean guitar! 8. Who is smarter? We both are smart, but in different ways. He builds stuff. Amazing stuff. Like airplanes. That fly with passengers in them. I am NOT kidding. And, he can fix ANYTHING (and I do mean anything- we have never called a repair man since we got married) And I have a head for book stuff. But we are both teachers, so learning is what we do.9.Whose temper is worse? There'd be a tie on that one. 10. Who does the laundry? In order to have regular coloured laundry, and not the pink kind, I am the laundry person. 11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Him. Always has. 12. Who pays the bills? Me! He has to ask if there is enough money in the bank to buy things that are 50 dollars!!!!! (he has NO idea) 13. Who cooks dinner? Me again. However, he does all the BBQ- I get it all ready, mind you, but he cooks it.14. Who drives when you are together? He does, but that way I can knit. I suppose I COULD knit and drive, but I don't think anyone would want to see that. 15. Who is more stubborn? Him. Couldn't be me. Oh no. No way. 16. Who kissed whom first? He kissed me. And then he, well, let's keep that part private!!!!!!!! 17. Who is the first to admit to being wrong? He would NEVER admit he was wrong. Ever. So that falls to me, if I want to keep the peace. 18. Whose parents do you see the most? My mom- she lives about 5 minutes away. His parents are about an hour and a half drive away. 19. Who proposed? He did. after he had cooked a delicious spicy stuffed chicken dinner (his own recipe!!!!!) for a bunch of my friends. He even got down on one knee!!!!!! 20. What’s his best physical attribute? Forearms. Strong, muscular, "working man" forearms. Oooo baby. 21. Who has more friends? Hmm- we both have a lot of acquaintances, but few friends. 22. What are you most proud of him for? For giving me his high school diploma for a wedding present. It took a whole lot of guts to go back to school and get it. 23. Who has more siblings? We're even at two. He has a brother and a sister, I have 2 sisters. But I have 64 first cousins!!!!!!!24. Who wears the pants in the family? We each share a leg. And those pants go on one leg at a time.

So if anyone wants to play tag, please grab this meme- but I send out a specific challenge to Diane at Yarn Tails, and to Bea at Baa Baa Black Sheep, and to Ruth at Knitting on Impulse. It is spill time, ladies.

Oh- and last night, after my husband got the computer repaired (love you, honey), we thought the old girl (the computer! Not me!) needed a little boost for being so good. So we bought her a new 21.7 inch slimline monitor! Hoo hah!

My weekend......

The ladies of Montreal........ (and my mom)

Oh man- what a weekend! It was incredible fun! Hello Shirley, Cathy, Barbie, Barb, Ruby of the Montreal Knitting Guild! In these shots, we are at the Wilton Road Motel, where they have a small, but very efficient, spinning operation (that's Paul, one of the owners, at work). They take mostly local fleeces, and spin them into whatever the owner's specifications, and then they return the farmer's own fleeces back to them. They are very careful about that part-a farmer is proud of his/her own product, and would not be pleased to have another person's wool returned to them. So, there is wool, and alpaca, and chiengora (there was a huge pile of Samoyed fur that had been brushed out of the dogs waiting to be mixed with merino and spun) and angora, as well as sea cell and silk and bamboo. Then we went into the store that they have-great fun!!! (I should have taken a picture of all the things they have!) Tracy, who works at the mill, was a living doll-great tour guide.

Yesterday, we went to a local store, WoolTyme, for coffee and muffins and spending. Later, after lunch, we went on a trip to the Wool Room, owned and operated by Mabel, who has been around the sheepdog trials and the wool business for quite some time (she is doing her retreats again-this time in November)(ugh-report card writing time for me). Then the group went off to other things, and I went off homeward to go and make sure my family recognized me when I came into the house. (They did!)

The ladies were just great- told many stories, listened to others-I certainly had a great time!

Off to grocery shopping, making supper, and then marking papers-(Blech-I'd rather be knitting)

Cheers!

And more updates....

We (mom and I) just spent a lovely evening with 5 members of the Montreal Knitting Guild-ah, who am I kidding- we had an absolute BLAST!And tomorrow, we will be joining them again. First stop, Wool Tyme. Then Mabel's Wool Room. Then a trip to a rabbit place. Then supper. And tomorrow morning- we go to Jan's shop-at the Wilton Road Motel in Odessa-she has a custom spinning mill there. Oh what fun this is all going to be!!!!!!!

While getting ready for the evening, didn't I roar around and trip a bit and slam my poor little toe onto a chair leg??? I think I broke it. It hurts like heck and it has a big patch of blue on it. But what can the doc's do? It's my baby toe, for heaven's sake!!!!

And for fun, go and see what my crazy husband is up to these days.......

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crazy+old+men+and+a+mini+chopper&search_type

Check out the crazy old men and a mini chopper. Oh my

updates........

I think I am actually becoming an adult. Why? Because I went out, after many months of deliberation, and started to buy dishes for everyday. And, no, for those smart alecks out there, we don't eat off of slabs of wood with our fingers. We are much more civilized than THAT! We eat off of a variety of plates- some from a garage sale (well, a barn sale, actually) and some I had from before we were married. And of course, the collection of plastic IKEA plates from Annie's babyhood. (C'mon- you know the ones- they look like petalled flowers) Anyhow, I have fallen in love with some Portmeiron everyday stuff, by Sophie Conran- see it here- http://www.robmcintoshchina.com/store/merchant.ihtml?id=2572580&step=2 The stuff is "hand-made looking"- slightly irregular shaping-nice and thin, however (I hate thick mugs, as well as mustard glasses and peanut butter/Flintstones jars to drink from). I bought two place settings to start-a biscuit and a sage. What I would like to do is collect two settings in each of the four colours-white, sage, biscuit and Eldon-with a variety of colours in the accessory pieces. And then, when I set the table, I'd like to sort of mix and match. Some people may actually prefer all of one colour, or maybe a plate in biscuit and a cup in sage or whatever, but man- this is very beautiful dinnerware.
We went up to Carp today, just Sean and I. Sort of a date. He went up to help a guy with his new homebuilt (Sean was the test pilot, as well as inspector). Annie and Bear stayed with Nanna. It was kinda fun to get out on our own for the day.
And yes, I am knitting-more later................

Danger Will Robinson

Yeah, danger for sure. I am currently on the laptop, because the big computer has had a period of iffyness, and now, the power source is f*cked. In other words, you can ppppooooossshhhhhh de button all you want, but it won't turn on. You get that satisfying "click", so you think something has happened, but zip, zilch, nada.
So posting will be even more sporadic!!!!
But you will NEVER guess what happened yesterday!!!! I came home, to walk the dog, and, as I was rounding the turn to home, I noticed a rather scruffy looking couple in front of my house. They were early 20s, dirty looking, a man and a woman. Pushing a grocery cart, with a backpack and a duffel bag in it. (in this neighbourhood? Weird) They saw me coming, so took out cigarettes, and made a big show of smoking them. But they didn't light them!!!!!!! So, when I was nearing the couple, I said the Bear, "Now Buddy, don't even think of doing anything-The last time you bit a stranger he needed all those stitches......" (Meanwhile, in Bear's eyes, there was a look of Who me? Bite anyone? Ech. Disgusting) And then I kind of eyed these two, and they started to walk along (after putting their cigs in a bag) I went into the house, locked everything up, went back to work. And, as soon as I got to work, walked in and called the cops. I am glad I did, because a squad car was sent out (good) and the officer I spoke with at the desk said that the description I gave sounded a lot like a couple of thieves who have been casing the neighbourhood, and breaking ion to houses. But get this-the grocery cart is their GETAWAY VEHICLE!!!!!!!!
UNBELIEVABLE.

Bear is a big flirt and shawls

Greetings. Still feeling way sad about little Noah. Just a sad, sad thing. On to other things. Bear is such a big old flirt- it is unreal!!! Here he is trying to figure out how best to charm me so I can offer him a cookie or a piece of dehydrated liver. Hmmmm

In June, we will be going to a wedding, as I have mentioned before. I figure I need a cool looking pantsuit- maybe in that slinky stretchy polyester stuff -you know the kind that doesn't need any ironing and hides a multitude of sins (miracle stuff)- anyhow- I thought I would try to make a wrap/shawl. I have a skein of Helen's Lace (Lorna's Laces) in the silk/merino- about 1250 yards of lovely lace weight- in Gold Hill (sort of brick and mauve/pink and gold) Any suggestions for shawl patterns that are a bit on the bigger side (I can't stand skimpy)??????

So sad.....

We have a very dear friend-she has been the daycare provider for Annie since she was about 3 years old. And she treats her "daycare kids" like they are her own! The day Annie started, I was asked what her favourite toys were, so M. made a point of buying a new version of whatever it was, so that Annie would feel at home (and believe me- this lady has LOTS of toys!!!) She stays well informed of new trends, developmental stages, and so on- so she also teaches "her kids", so they are ready for school. In the summer, since they have a pool, she teaches the kids how to swim and be safe. All in all, an absolutely AMAZING woman. She even has birthday parties for each child, with gifts and cake and balloons-utterly amazing. Anyhow, a couple of years ago, her son (she has 3 grown kids) and his long time girlfriend, decided to get married. Oh, much merriment. These two are so well suited for each other! Then, last fall, we heard that they were expecting!!!!! M. and her husband were beside themselves!!! (In fact, they even wished for twins, so that they wouldn't have to take turns with one baby!!!!) Pregnancy going well- mommy was well, all was going along just fine. The due date was around Easter, but, as with first time mommies, new baby wasn't co-operating. So, finally, after 2 weeks, baby started to make his entry into this world. But, mommy wasn't progressing, so a c-section was ordered. A healthy (or so we thought), although smaller than expected baby was born, and he was given the middle name of his new grandpa. That night, some problems. A trip to Sick Kids in Toronto. And the diagnosis- baby's bowels were too twisted and perforated, there wasn't even enough healthy tissue to try a surgical intervention.
Little Noah lasted 2 days.
My heart is broken for this family-if any family should have lots of babies, well, this is the one.
Hug your babies today.

Suggestions, anyone?

I am considering selling off some of my stash (culling the herd, so to speak) and I need some advice. Do people generally look for oddballs ("one of" luxury yarns to experiment with)? Or small projects with ideas for what to do with the yarn? (Like scarf/mitt/glove/whatever with ideas either on line or in books) Or large project stuff (like sweaters/wraps) Or sock yarn? Or...? Is it that people just see a photo of something and lust after it? Or is it just a search for a bargain? And shipping. Cheapest? Or with a tracking number? Or should I just scrap the whole idea and put bags of stash at the curb and get on with things?

I have stash items that I will never in my lifetime knit up. Or the colour doesn't work. Or I thought such and such a yarn would work with such and such a pattern- but, no, unfortunately. And I tend to buy nicer stuff- no acrylic (unless there is something very special about it) in interesting colours.
Pictures are a MUST when selling yarns-I wouldn't be able buy anything for me, sight unseen. So that is a must do. Quantities (yardages incl.), as well as weights-also a must do. What else?

Now, onto yet another request. I am going to a wedding early June. What does one wear to weddings this spring/summer(late afternoon with an evening reception)? Suggestions from the fashionistas out there? Annie is going as well-she is 10.

Help.

AAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

This is the wee man I made the Mission Falls vest and hat for. Isn't he darling????? I work with his grandmother (this is a first grandchild for her, and he is all the way over in England!). Anyhow- here he is, in all of his self importance- he is 4 months old in this shot- I swear he looks like he is about to chat! But he sure is cute.

Thank you to all of the well wishers on my "day of rest" yesterday. My knee is still complaining-I swear I have started to walk like Lurch

You remember him??????

Yeah, I feel pretty.

I am bummed

Maybe it is this need for me to see something other than white stuff on the ground by April. Or perhaps I don't enjoy this nasty turn my knees have taken (as in swollen and OW) so I think I will do myself some intensive therapy. First of all- booked a sick day for tomorrow so that I can give my knees lots of ice and elevation. 2-get my knit- knit projects together and my movies (this is "TV Turn Off Week in our city- so having a 10 year old who would benefit by no TV/more activity is a GOOD THING. But I feel I have to watch tv in a sneaky, undercover way so that I am not teasing her)(and I have that last Stargate movie just calling me- I haven't been able to watch it all the way through- so tomorrow, Bear and I are going to watch it) and 3- forget about my worries and just kick back for a day.
Sounds like a plan, eh?

FO!!!!!

This is a pic of the vest I just finished. The yarn? Tahki Donegal Tweed in teal. I love, LOVE this yarn- the colour is richer and deeper than in the pictures (my camera wants to wash out the richness of the blue-green). I didn't really have a pattern- what I wanted was a garter stitch round neck, garter bands and garter around the bottom. I liked the black matte rectangular buttons- they look very sophisticated against the tweed. I even designed a little element in the back to allow for an increase around the bustline (gotta get the boobage taken care of). It is just a simple "vee" of eyelets to add some stitches. See?

Yeah, hard to see- but trust me- it IS there. So, I blocked each piece before I sewed it together- and ...it's TOO BIG. I guess I over estimated. Luckily I have a friend who really likes my errors, since they usually fit her!!!!

I am totally pooped today-just a really long day. I kinda feel like Bear does in this picture.

Doesn't he look comfortable? (That is his favourite toy-the gorilla gets a stiff beating every other day or so, but then he gets loved deeply).

By the by- Bea, over at http://bea-blacksheep.blogspot.com/ is having a contest- you might want to go over there just to see her beautiful babies- Gus and Abby- yeah it is so worth a look!