Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Goodbye 49


I'm almost done packing, and on Friday we move out of the home we have lived in for almost five     
years. I am looking forward to the change, but I really am going to miss this place. So many memories. What I will miss most is my kitchen. We are kitchen people, feels like the heart of a home is in the kitchen, doesn't it? My kids are constantly with me while I'm cooking, and it feels like they've grown up sitting on top of our kitchen counter "helping" me. That I will miss. I will even miss all of the things that annoyed me about this place. Thankfully we have all of our memories and are moving on to something we have been wanting for a very long time. Goodbye 49.


On to the crafting! I can start by saying that I am reading nothing at the moment. I'm either packing or knitting, reading is on hold at the moment. I have two projects on my kneedles and hook at the moment.  I'm almost done with Esther's cardigan, just have the sleeves left and need to tuck away loose threads. I love the way it turning out! I should be done with it this week if packing and unpacking doesn't take up all my free time.



I started another project just this morning, a "Dinner in the Eiffel Tower" shawl. I've never knit a shawl and have wanted to make myself one for a long time, but that will have to wait. This shawl is a present for the sweetest, warmest daycare teacher ever. She is starting a new job and will be leaving the daycare my kids go to in mid-April. I cried a little when I got the news, she is just that precious. She has so much patience, oozes warmth and caring and you can tell that she really loves the children she teaches. She and I have come to know each other quite well throughout the years and she has helped me a lot with my sensitive little boy. She gets him, knows how he works and can appreciate his sensitive, careful nature and gives him the gentle nudges he needs to take on scary things. I really want her to know how much she has meant to this family, and I'm hoping this little gift will be a reminder of us and how much we appreciate her.

As for the shawl itself, I'm not sure about the yarn. It's 100% wool and feels so coarse and chunky. I usually knit in blends of alpaca and wool. Might just be my knitting, I'm a stressed person at heart I guess and I knit HARD. I'm trying to be as relaxed as possible, surely a challenge for me! I'll give the yarn a chance, I would like to use it since my son chose the color for his teacher. We'll see how this evolves.

Joining Ginny and a whole lot of crafty souls over at Small Things.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Breaking the silence once again

I went quiet again. Admittedly, I was overwhelmed by life in general, and this space became a source of stress instead of something fun. I've found myself in that downward spiral more times than I'd like to admit, but I'm doing my best to work my way up again. I won't make any promises about how often I will share some pictures and words on the blogosphere, but I have missed it and would like to give this another try. So we'll just see how this goes!

I hate starting my first 2013 post with a totally uninspired instagram shot of my latest work in progress, but we are in the process of moving and I can't find the cord to connect my camera to the computer. We finally bought our first house, I still feel all giggly when I mention it! Unfortunately we have to make a temporary move to a rental apartment before we get the house, but I'm choosing to see that as a small hiccup in my life. I'll cozy the place up for the kids, grow my balconatoes out on the balcony just like I did last year and make the most of it. 'Cause I know we have something really good to look for in August. August isn't that far away, right?!


On to the my latest project. A cardigan for Esther. I'm a cardigan person, I don't even remember the last sweater I owned, but my cardigans, those I have loved and worn until they have basically fallen off my back. Esther requested a cardigan of her own, and after perusing the stores and coming up short I decided to take matters into my own hands. I'm using double strands of "Inca alpaca", a yarn I bought on my last trip to Iceland (it's not Icelandic though, but Norwegian), without knowing what I'd do with it. The pattern is "Girls Classic Cardigan", a beautiful and very easy pattern. I'm about halfway through, and hope it turns out well. I'm nervous about the openings for Esther's arms being too tight, but so far she hasn't complained.

As far as reading goes, I've been reading Guy Grieve's "Call of the wild: My escape to Alaska". The author recounts his adventures after leaving his life in Scotland and moving to Alaska to live in solitude out in the wild for a year. I am such a sucker for these types of stories, I absolutely love them. I'm a nature-lover at heart, I'm the type of person that is happiest outdoors and stories like these just bring out the daydreamer in me. The book is a good read, and I appreciate the authors candor in admitting his mistakes and lack of know-how when it comes to living in such harsh conditions.

I have been gone for this space so long that I feel like I have a million things I want to share, old projects that need photographing and words that want out of my fuzzy head. Feels good to be back, I've missed you.

Joining this weeks Yarn Along.