Muppet Mania

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick.You're always willing to lend a helping hand.In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going."15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Sugar Shock

Well.
Being Catholic, I am aware that Easter is about more than chocolate. My children, however, have not progressed much past the whole rabbit thing. I'm certain they think that the 1.5 hours we spent at church Sunday morning (at 7:30 am for the love of God and all that is holy) was designed by parents to be some sort of torture tool for bunny-loving kids waiting patiently for chocolate. Quite frankly, I thought it was a bit torturous myself. Luckily, I was able to avoid the two hour long marathon mass that was Holy Thursday. My girlfriend and I joke about starting our own bastardized version of Catholicism we like to call "The Gospel According to Dan Brown" wherein Jesus married Mary Magdelene and had babies. Ah, but that is for another post....

Back at the ranch we had a visit from the bunny. Not once. Not twice. Three times. Three. Three baskets for each kid. I'm sneaking chocolate out and tossing it in the garbage at any opportunity. I'm sure that will buy me a ticket straight to Bunny Hell, but life with two kids high on whoppers is hell on earth. It's the lesser of two evils, really.

After the festivities were over (and the two empty champagne bottles hidden in the garbage lest my recycle man think me a lush. Because the wine bottles don't count. Um. Yeah.) I got a chance to finish Josephine!!

Details:
Pattern:
Josephine from Knitty.com
Materials:
Knitpicks Sierra in Natural
Misc. Details:
I increased the length before sleeve/armhole shaping by about .5 inch. My seams SUCK because I wasn't sure I'd like the sweater so I threw it together. I was positive that it wouldn't fit right/look right/etc. In fact, I finished it last night and put it in my bedroom. Didn't even try it on until this morning! I LOVE this sweater!!! I will need to tear out the side seams and redo, but I LOVE this piece! I almost wish I had stuck with my original plan of doing it in the Nutmeg color, but the natural is good, too. Very soft and warm, and not scratchy in the least. My only complaint is that I wasn't quite tight enough with the cables so there are a few holes, and the sweater stretched a lot in the course of wearing it today.

Instead of the belt I decided on toggle buttons. I will put one at the point where the shawl collar comes together and the other a few inches below.










































Buttons I chose are sort-of in place.

It's not lopsided, I just laid it out funny....

(Requisite car included at son's request)









Also as promised...Clapotis!

Details:
Pattern:
Clapotis from knitty.com
Materials:
Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in Sandridge colorway
Misc:
I used three skeins, omitting one repeat in the middle section, as others have written about. Had just enough to complete it! Now, I can't decide whether or not to block it. I like it unblocked, and that's how Kate Gilbert (the designer) prefers it, so I may keep it that way.

In other news, I am having to frog both my Orangina (too big) and my Forecast for the KAL's I am part of. I decided that since I'm starting my Orangina over I'll do both sides at once. Slower going, but I only have to do it "once". My Forecast is going to look GREAT if I can ever pull my head out of my ass and read the very simple and well-written directions by Stefani Japel.

I'm also working on a baby sweater for my neighbor's newborn and I just bought yarn (shhhh) for about 5 new projects.

Flyguy is currently getting ready for another trip to Cancun. His third this month. He's getting quite a tan, while I seem to be getting quite a gut from all the damn chocolate around here. Here's to chocolate!

On Finishing Something

I am great, and I mean really, really great...at starting things. I have started quilts, photo albums, books (reading, not writing), organization plans, and gardens. If you are trying to start something and need a little push, well... I'm you're girl.

Finishing. Now, see, that's a problem. Oh, sure, I can finish shopping for a shoe to match my dress (although it ripped up the top of my foot because I settled for cheap-ass), I can finish a glass of wine (or 3 or 4 if the party is fun), and I can finish making dinner (because there's nothing more disgusting than half-baked pie, half-broiled salmon, etc). And I have two kids who expect you to follow through if you happen to, in a moment of complete and utter stupidity, promise to maybe...make them a new quilt. I'm getting better about finishing things, but I still have way too much going at one time (knitting ADD as Crazy Aunt Purl calls it).

So, my finished object (FO) file is small, but it means big victories for me. I present for your viewing pleasure....

Cocktail Monkey Bag

This bag was made last summer (o5) with all the recommended materials. Pattern from knitty.com It was well loved and well used (and only slightly abused once during an unfortunate over-stuffing incident). It's fringe is a bit sad, but easily remedied. The monkeys long since broke off, but I got so many dang compliments on it every time I carried it.

Sitcom Chic

**When viewing this picture, it is really in your best interest to ignore the cheesy grin, shiny hair and big nose. (sorry about the booger shot)

Sitcom Chic by BonneMarie Burns. Pattern on knitty.com Made with Lion Brand Cotton Ease in (I think) popsicle. This pattern is GREAT. Next time I make it (because I will make it again) I'll do one size smaller. I did the medium and it's just too big on me.

Skully

From Stitch N Bitch. I used Lamb's Pride (I believe that is the recommended yarn). I loved making this sweater and even though the st st was mind numbingly boring it was fast fast fast and no pattern to refer to. It's warm and comfy, but the wool is super itchy around my neck so I usually have to wear a collared shirt under (kinda cuts down on the coolness factor). (shameless promotion of cute cat included at no extra cost) (stupid pose...trying to move cat out of picture) (yes, those green walls were on purpose, and no, I wasn't drinking or high on bad crack)

I also have Clapotis pictures to post, but I'm late for an appointment (regarding wine and chocolate of all things).

Enjoy!

On Murphy's Law

I don't know the exact text of Murphy's Law, but it goes something like this:

Nothing ever goes perfectly. If it is going perfectly, you can be assured that at any point in the very near future something will go horribly wrong.

Now, I don't know this Murphy, but I'm convinced there is a special place in hell reserved just for him.

It's an amazing day here. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky. About 60 degrees, birds chirping....the whole deal. My house is clean, so I figure I'll take a few minutes to knit while Little Guy takes a little nap. He's been a bit under the weather today and has fallen asleep. Not five seconds after I settle in he's reeking of diarrhea. And he is most definitely awake. I go to get him a new diaper, and by the time I return to the livingroom he's in the 3 year old barf position (which is standing over the CARPET dangerously close to my new knitting project). And then the heaving begins. All. Over.

I take care of him, the clean diaper, and take the dirty laundry to the laundry room, and SQUISH. hmmmm SQUISH. Uh oh. The entire floor is covered in water. Well, since 2pm is a little early to pour up a tall glass of merlot goodness, I decide do the next best thing and ignore the laundry room for now. I grab the carpet cleaner and go to town on the barf spot. The HUGE barf spot. There is nothing like steam cleaning barf. The smell is atrocious. I thank God over and over for a suppressed gag reflex.

I get done cleaning the carpet, and when I turn off the cleaner IT barfs all over my carpet. I am NOT KIDDING. I have no idea if it's grease (do they need grease?) or if it has the same unfortunate reflux issue as the washing machine and my son. (and the cat, but at least she missed the knitting project and got a used skein of Lion Brand cotton ease)

Well, I have cleaned up the washing machine, the kiddo, and the carpet (to the best of my ability without a carpet cleaner) and I can now throw together another crappy dinner, put the kids in the bath, go through the bedtime routine, and maybe stay awake for Lost. Because I have to have my weekly dose of weird. And, when hubby (Flyguy) calls me from work to ask how my day went you can be sure I will embellish so he feels significantly guilty that this always happens when he's gone. Gone, I might add, to CANCUN. During spring break. He gets paid for this. It's wrong on so many levels.

Hate you Murphy. Hate you and the horse you rode in on. And I'm gonna have that glass of merlot as soon as kiddos are in bed. (Exactly one hour and ten minutes)

On Beginnings

Ok. I did it. I am officially a blogger.

My main goal is to have a place to share knitting, but I'm sure I'll blather on about ridiculous things my kids say, pictures of camping trips this summer, my friends, and shoes. Yes, shoes. Because, people, shoes are what holds this place together. It was, in all probability, the most depressing day of my life when I proudly came home with a new pair of shoes (from Gymboree, no less) for my 6 year old and she exclaims "Mom. Please. No more shoes. I don't have anymore room in my shoe holder."

uhhhhhh

huh?

WTF?

No more shoes? Are you my daughter? No more room? Well, that's just wrong. We'll build another shelf. Here, use your brother's. Use mine. For the love of God, never, EVER utter those words again. Cuz, baby, there's ALWAYS room for shoes. And, she just laughs. LAUGHS.

In conclusion, this post has little to do with beginnings, knitting, or much of anything with substance. You can expect this. A lot. I'm neither the most profound or the funniest blogger on earth. I usually have both kids talking to me at the same time, and the phone is ringing and the cat is throwing up her latest meal....on my latest knitting project.

I leave you with shoes....

These shoes are a bit on the trashy side, maybe a little too ummm....polka dotted? Do you see Pamela Anderson in these? But I love them. Hot pink satin, 4 inch heels and wrap around ankle straps. Probably not a Sex and the City top pick. Not something SJP would slip on to go to a cooooooool NYC bar. But me? I'm all about the tacky.