Marie Grace Designs

Dear Mom...

Just wanted to let you know that I hacked up that dryer sheet I ate yesterday. Its over there on the wood floor near the piano. Ya might want to go clean it up while the coffee brews.
Love, Darwin

Anyway....

Before I forget (again) that bonus macro shot way back when was a close up of this:

Its a smocking pleater. Its also good for scaring little kids if you say “Hey....come here....put your finger right there....I wanna see what happens.”

The panic attack I was having earlier in the week has abated and things are settling nicely. We’re quickly working out a nice flow to the school day which is much easier now that the 2 older kids can work rather independently. I’m not really a “schedule-er” as much as a “routine-er”. I know some homeschoolers just wing it but I’ve found that with the 4 of them its a tremendous help to have a basic outline of the day just to keep us on track.

I’ve also finally settled on the Yarn Botanika scarf plan. I’m enjoying the steady progress and happy with my choice. Just so you know, that’s the back you see in the picture. You’ll have to wait until the unveiling to really see it.

The weather has been surprisingly cool the past few days. I do believe its a reminder/warning that fall isn’t far away. The kids went out to play ball in the yard and actually came back in to grab some sweatshirts. I know it won’t stay this way just yet but its a nice change from the humidity we were having.

Digressions

So the weekend I had so carefully planned out to include a bit of organizing and planning and a virtual ton of knitting never even came close to what I had envisioned. Life happens and even when its nothing bad the whirlwind of it all just knocks me a little sideways.

School begins with me feeling a step behind not because anything really is behind but because I’m a freak about planning and figuring and sticking post-it notes everywhere. Not really your drill sergeant type just your average outnumbered if-it-gets-out-of-control-I’ll-never-get-it-back-again sort of panic.

The knitting rolled around in my head all weekend like an unanswered question. I had a plan for the Yarn Botanika yarn as soon as I saw it but for some reason talked myself into something else entirely. Ever since there’s been a little nagging feeling every time I pick it up to work a few rows. The stitch I was working wasn’t quite what I had hoped and I kept wondering what that first plan would have looked like. So me being me I fiddled the other end of the skein out carefully and whipped up a swatch.

The colors of the yarn played right out and the rhythm of the mellow and traditional took over. I know that sounds like a bunch of hocus-pocus but really its my knitting version of comfort food. I was always afraid my favorite plans would be viewed as boring but I’m wondering if some other knitters aren’t just like me. I rather knit than count. I’d rather watch the colors than try to impress with an over the top stitch sequence that throws me around and is unpleasant to work. I like to feel progress rather than beg for the end of the hank to come into view.

On a lighter note here’s a blurry picture of Tater being her typical sunshine self. Its got nothing to do with anything but she was really being a ham and it still makes me smile while I sit here 2 days later. If you look close you'll see her shoes are on the wrong feet. Her brother helped her put them on....you know....the brother who almost went grocery shopping in his boxers....oy.

And those buttons from the last post can be found here and here. They look even better in person.....cute!

Weak spots...

Monday will be the start of official school year 06-07. I’m still missing a few books that are on backorder but we’ll be fine without them for little while.

This is a bitter sweet time as far as the knitting goes. Gone are the days of knitting all afternoon while the kids play outside. No more leaving the table littered with piles of yarn balls, swatches and half finished projects. Its back to setting a good example. Time to brush up on the time management skills. Time to put the can of colored highlighters next to the calendar.

Everybody has a weak spot that will be addressed in one way or another throughout the year. One needs to work on writing skills, another phonics. Mine is organization and self discipline (stop laughing). I need to limit myself to one knitting project at a time so that one individual project will get my full attention until it is finished (I said stop laughing). I truly feel that if I concentrate on one idea at a time I will feel more productive and take the time to work out some more detailed designs (quit laughing damn it!).

Of course none of that is going to happen until I finish the six two projects I have OTN right now.

Here’s a peek at some things that are done. You’ll be seeing them soon at Llamajama. Seems I’ve got a good thing going there. Great yarns, lots of colors and plenty of knitting for the little ones. I hear there will be some new colors in the merino real soon, too!

Man Sweaters

All this talk about Man Sweaters has me thinking. It seems most , including Elizabeth, are in agreement that the guys like the simple navy or tan pullover type. Nothing fancy or colorful.

Enter Mac Daddy. He likes the fair isle and the cables...the more the better. Regal reds and royal blues. Luxury yarns even. Snob. Just my luck.

He’d got his Lopi which he likes for cool weather outdoorsy stuff. Apparently its easier to go skeet shooting in a Lopi than a coat. Being the dedicated sort of guy he is he also is sure to mention that his woman made it for him. Even so, he did mention that he would have picked brighter colors if I had left it up to him...which I didn’t...the only thing worse that waiting for a kid to pick a cereal at the grocery store is asking Mac Daddy what kind of sweater he wants.

He loves Dale sweaters. Here’s some of the yarn I got to make him one. Last year. Size 2 needles for something in his size is just scary. I’d really like to tackle it though. Dale sweaters are truly beautiful.

So anyway....I know not everyone is a big Lopi fan like I am because its more of an outerwear wool so I was pleased when I found this. Its a new yarn (at least its new at my LYS) called Harmony that looks like Lopi and knits the same gauge but is really soft. Its still 100% wool and its sturdy (I hate slouchy wool). It will still be a really heavy, warm sweater. I’ll give in to something with a finer gauge another time.

Yesterday SciFi channel ran cheesy snake movies all day long. Boa, Python, Boa vs Python. It rocked. I so cannot wait to take the boys and go see Snakes on a Plane. My point is I sat on my butt all day watching movies and knitting.

I finished the back of the Frog Tree merino and started the front. Its a slow going project just because I get bored with vast expanses of stockinette and I have to put it down for a while. I did start another raglan, this one for The Little Lady. She’s the only one of The Crew that hasn’t got a page on TGB and the guilt is becoming more than I can stand.

Speaking of The Crew.... look what I caught them doing....they’ve all got those little spool knitter thingers....and I had nothing to do with it. They’ve been sitting on a shelf for literally about 2 years collecting dust. I don’t know what inspired The Crew to dig them out but there they are. No fighting, no whining...and the big kids helped the little kids. This went on for quite some time. I stayed upstairs so I wouldn’t ruin the moment.

Hey, baby, cute yarn ya got there!

Look...its so cute! Picked these up at the LYS last friday during our Midnight Madness session (had a blast by the way). I haven’t the slightest clue what I’ll do with it (as usual) but its so darn cute! Really smooth and squishy and soft, vibrant colors...weeeeee.

Its Artyarns Ultramerino 6 (100% luxury merino). Can you see its squishiness? Worship the squishiness!!

Had all I could do to not walk out with an armload of Silky Wool. A virtual ton of autumn colors. There’s always next week.

The Frog Tree merino is slowly working its way to becoming something wearable. Something a little long in the waist, a lot little snug, and a fun neck finish. Perfect for those cooler days you know aren’t all that far away.

Solving the mystery....

Here's full shots of the Monday Macro Mysteries:

#1 (kitchen chairs that look nicer than they really are. They fall over if you as much as bump them. I can't tell you how many times Mac Daddy and I have gone running in a panic when one of these fell over on the wood floor because we thought the SMACK was a kid's head.)

#2 Glass in the front door.

#3 I figured anybody with an iPod would know.

#4 I put this picture up just to see if there were any other weavers out there. The macro was of the heddle on this loom.

#5 Yup...diapers. Tater is still in diapers. Leave us alone.

#6 The Little Guy's (aka Fish Boy) electric dolphin nightlight. I sneak into his room everynight to turn it off after he falls asleep.

Here's a bonus macro. I'm posting it for my own entertainment. I'm just curious to see if anybody other than me knows what it is or owns one.

There's a bit of chit-chat going on about that Yarn Botanika project over on The Garter Belt Team Blog.

What would you do with one hank?

Monday macro

This week's Blog Stalking post:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Friday night was Knit and Chat night at the LYS and we had a midnight madness session complete with pizza and chocolate! Next post I'll show you the yarn that followed me home and maybe some actual knitting progress.

Today, I am a hero.

I love little kids. Little kids are hilarious. Little kids do funny stuff and say funny stuff and they laugh when you say something dumb. Little kids love you if you read them a book and use funny voices for all the characters. Little kids love you if you let them mix all the playdough colors together. Little kids are great.

So explain to me why today, when I asked if I could just be put on preschool duty full time for co-op this year, all the other moms dang near fell on my feet with thankfulness. They all sort of looked at me for a minute like they thought I couldn’t possibly be serious.

Apparently, what I see as the easy way out is seen as sheer torture to others. I’ve been sitting here pondering my chances of getting the preschool class all to myself and all the other moms have been trying to figure out how to get out of it.

Are they seriously telling me they would rather teach grammar to a bunch of 10 year olds that do finger paint self portraits? They would actually choose biology over story time? Seriously?

I’m all into algebra with my own kid but if I need to be in charge of a whole room of people I prefer they all be under the age of 5. That way I can relax and have fun too.

I’m just trying to figure out what that says about me. Apparently, at least for today, it means I am a hero in the eyes of the other moms at co-op. Sounds like the start of a good year to me.

Little kids are great. Knitting for little kids is great too. I’ve been all consumed with little knits lately. I’ve been doodling with the color stash and having fun. I need to go button shopping.

Blog Stalking Assignment: Meal Prep.

Here I am slaving over a hot stove to prepare a filling and somewhat healthy meal for my family.

Oh, wait. I’m not home.

Dinner is being cooked by my loyal crock pot. Over there....behind the yarn.

Cooking today: Roast beast.

I tossed said beast in the crock with these and 4 cups of water before we all left this morning.

Upon returning home, hours later, with some more new school materials and crickets for the toad (toad’s meal prep...he,he) I put together a salad.

The thing about salad is that Mac Daddy and I prefer baby spinach and weedy looking greens but the kids only like stupid iceberg lettuce. I did find that if I force the weedy greens the kids just skip the salad altogether. If I give in on the iceberg they will not only eat it but put good stuff like carrots, mushrooms and cucumbers on it and eat that too.

Surrender the lettuce battle.....win the veggie war.

Beast shredded.....

and stuffed in a crusty roll with provolone. Small dish at upper center is beast drippings for dipp’in. Yum!

Watch what you wish for

First:
Thank you to everybody for all the nice comments and emails about my TGB debut. I was a nervous wreck and all the positivity really helped.

After hoping and working and trying and wishing and waiting there I am on TGB. Now what? Keeping up with the likes of those ladies is a big undertaking. Not to be taken lightly.

My very first team project is underway and I can’t wait to get started. Lis did a great job with color selection, I love this color-way. I’m hoping to get to swatching today.

The awful heat and humidity from last week finally shifted outta here and we all spent a good bit of time outside over the weekend.

The Crew loaded up the water guns.

3 against 1...sounds fair to me.

Tater learned that being the youngest means you get all the good stuff the big kids grow out of.

The neighbor’s little grandson came over to visit. He’s only a few months older than Tater.

Don’t worry. They were home by curfew.