You know what's good?

The Jack in the Box Bruschetta Chicken sandwich.

Really. I was impressed and I used to work in a cooking school so I flatter myself that I know something about food.

Too much of a muchness

The Rowan Cotton Tape is too expensive (11 skeins needed for a 3/4 sleeve shortish pullover at $10 a skein - yikes), too heavy (it's in the 80s here already), and too bright (really bright pastels - I like bright but couple with the expensive and the heavy...).

If I were really smart, I'd start on the socks I want to knit for Dad for his birthday (3 weeks away), or finish the Lollipop cardigan for my daughter (only the buttonbands left) or knit the His scarf for the British couple who will be visiting us at the end of April.

Somehow, the combination of spring and sickness has made me a bit selfish. We'll see what happens.

Good Ness

Blogger went wonky on me and wouldn't let me post yesterday.

At some point last week, Hubster took Bean to the park and picked up a stick on the wheel of the stroller (it's a jogger so the wheels are inflatable rather than the hard plastic on regular strollers). He removed said stick and the wheel deflated. He threw said stick on the floor of the garage.

Yesteray, I discovered that there was a huge freaking thorn on the stick. I discovered this with my foot which now has a nice hole in it. Oh well, at least the Bean didn't discover the thorn with her foot. I never really liked those shoes anyway ;>

In knitting news, there is no knitting news. I did finish my socks (YAY!). I think I may trek up to my LYS and check out the new Rowan Cotton Rope. I want a sweater that's a reasonably straightforward and quick knit and I'm a slut for Rowan.

I have a number of projects I was thinking about before The Flu, but now I seem to have lost some of my momentum.

Returning to normalcy

OK, returning to what passes for normalcy in my house. Bean slept all night last night. I went to bed at 8.30pm and slept all night as well. Hubster is still sleeping in the guest room so that I don't wake him with my tuburcular coughing fits. So, aside from Bean waking up at 6.45am, we're all doing pretty well. Unfortunately, Bean has not been without fever long enough for me to feel comfortable arranging a play date so we're getting a bit stir crazy. In a bit, we're going to go to the SuperTarget and buy stuff to make chocolate chip cookies. That ought to buy me a large chunk of the afternoon. It's nasty and overcast outside so the sandbox is out. Rats.


Knitting? What knitting? Today is the first day that the mere *thought* of knitting didn't turn my stomach. I think this is the longest hiatus I've taken from knitting in quite a while. And, of course, now that my interest is returning, I don't have anything I want to knit out of yarn I have in my stash. I'm thinking I may go buy some of the new Rowan Cotton Rope at my LYS. There are a couple of sweaters in the Cotton Rope book I like and it would be a quick knit. I think I am in need of some (semi) instant gratification to get back in my groove.

Fever n' Ague

There is a scene in one of the Little House on the Prarie books in which the Ingalls family catches "fever n' ague" (now known as malaria) and Laura goes to the water bucket to bring back a dipper for Mary. I felt like that yesterday. Bean was sucumbing to the Vile Flu and I was not yet ready to be up and about. I'm much better today but there were a few moments yesterday where I honestly felt just about like crawling on the floor to bring Bean a sippy cup. I had the presence of mind to call the pediatrician Saturday night when we realized she had it. He sent over some "Tamiflu" which is the new miracle flu drug. Of course, what I should have done was take her to the ped the second they got the flu shot back in. Lesson learned. Next year, I'm going to be first in line for flu shots for everyone in case they run out again.

Today is much better, although Bean refused to sleep last night. Still, I'm vastly better so I don't care so much. The only lingering effect is that I have a cough and my ears are stopped up. I feel sort of like I'm in the next room and I can't quite hear myself.

I feel better

if you define "better" as not fatal.

This is kicking my hind end all over the place. This is the first day I've been able to get out of bed since Sunday. Let's hope things keep trending upwards.

FLU

There's a reason that flu starts with "f" and ends with "u".

Sometimes they really should not allow me out of the house

This morning on the playground I overheard one mother ask another mother, "My God, what do they feed that child for breakfast?" I realized that this comment was addressing my own sweet Bean who, at that moment was hopping across the playground like the Easter Bunny on speed. I leaned over and smiled sweetly and said. "Coffee and Girl Scout Cookies - Breakfast of Champions."

My child overhears me saying "coffee" and pipes up, "I loooooooooooove coffee!"*

The responses were as follows:
Mother #1 : goggles at me
Mother #2: tentatively laughs as if she's not sure whether or not this is a joke
My response: get up and go hop across the playground with my child

Heh heh heh.

*Note: Said child has never actually been given coffee but on weekends she demands that Daddy let her smell the coffee beans before he grinds them.

Phew!

Man, I'm tired. My friend came over with her daughter (Bean's best friend) and son and then another friend came over with her daughter and we all decided to go to the mall and get the kids' pictures taken with the bunnies. You'd think that 3 adults to wrangle two not-quite-one-year-olds (both of whom are walking) and two not-quite-three-year-olds would work out in the adults vs kids ratio. Not even close. We all got some adorable pics but we were all pretty much a mess by the end of it. Lunch after the pics was the deal-breaker. Bad decision by hungry moms. Ah well, Bean and I are home now and watching Singin' in the Rain (Bean's favorite movie).

I'm lucky

My daughter has a best friend. Together, they are adorable. The second they get together, they run off to the resepctive host's bedroom, strip, and begin a long process of dress-up. Last week, Bean put on a princess costume, got out the doctor kit, and informed me in an imperious tone of voice that she was "Doctor Princess Bean". I love it!

I'm also lucky in that the mom has become one of my close friends. She's great. In a little while, they are coming over to play. Bean is running around the house screaming, "C is coming!" I hope that they can remain friends for a long, long time.

Off to plan lunch!

Hey Lolly Lolly

Lollipop is nearing completion

A quick and enjoyable knit. I don't like the collar so I'm ripping it and doing the button bands first and then doing the collar.

I'm also working on my second pair of socks. I have not fixed the problem in sock #1 nor have I finished it's mate. All in good time. Just not right now. I think I'll also bandwagon Kay and finally cast on for Creeper. I share her Rowan Denim mania and have been debating between Creeper and Voyage. Creeper is a bit more straightforward and I need some mindless knitting in my life. The Bean got her share of the Denim; it's my turn now!

Lollipop!

I dug into my stash of luscious Katia Cotton Club and ...


Lollipop! Wear your sunglasses next time you see The Bean! There is no way you can be angry knitting such soft cotton in such lovely, bright colors.


And, last weekend, I whipped out this:

This was the Lopi sweater


Now, it's Rita's Bag. Very hairy but I like it that way!

I Hate Nicki Epstein

The digital camera is hiding from me so no pics today. The way today is going, I'd probably just break it.

Today I finished the Rowan Denim jumper. It's adorable. It's a good thing it's adorable because I also finished my first sock (had to miss class last night after all) and it's a bit too short.

I wasn't even very discouraged by that until I felted the roses for the godforsaken flower basket bag. I didn't sew them up quite firmly enough and they all turned themselves inside out. Two cannot be salvaged. And we won't even discuss the leaves. They look like crap - even the ones that might work look like crap. Most of them kind of fell apart. Peruvian Highland Wool felts horribly unless it's a tight gauge. I've been underwhelmed by this bag the whole way and am to the point where I'll finish it but I'm not going to like it. I'll save it for a Christmas gift.

Two knitting disasters in one day. OK, one novice learning experience and one disaster but still. The worst thing is that I'm still pretty much bedridden so I really want to knit but at this point am a bit intimidated.

Grr. Time for a SWEATER!!! Creeper is going to be moved up on the do list.

Surviving

Because all the cool kids are doing it:

10 Things I Have Done That You Probably Haven’t

1. Worked sound and lights for REM. Ditto The Fixx, Thompson Twins, Bangles, and Zubin Mehta.

2. I usually am given at least one round of free drinks in any bar I go into. Anywhere. Regardless of whether I know anyone in the bar. (I once was given free beer for myself and my husband at the Iowa State Fair from a guy at the Turkey Council booth.)

3. Been whitewater rafting down the same river as in the movie Deliverance.

4. Been hit by a car as a pedestrian.

5. Dated a professional skateboarder.

6. Busted my ass (broke my tailbone).

7. Won a food grossout contest between myself, a friend from Japan and a friend from India. I won with a can of Armor Brains in Milk.

8. Hitched a ride in Ireland with the owner of the local taxi concession.

9. Knew at least one person everywhere I went for several years. (Seriously, on a 48 hour trip to Chicago I knew someone in the row in front of me on the plane to Chicago, ran into someone I knew while in the city and on the plane home, sat behind someone I knew. I had never been to Chicago before.)

10. Engaged in synchronized burping on a friend's radio show on a mjor station. During a song.

Over the last week, I've survived a week-long incursion by the out-laws. Actually, that's uncharitable. They are lovely people and the Bean adores having them. And it's certainly a nice break from the constantcy of toddler-care for Hubster and me. Nevertheless, it's still a week of someone else living in your house. No matter how much you like them being there, it's kind of a relief when they leave. (And before anyone suggests that they limit their visits to shorter stays, it was my idea that they stay a week. Bean doesn't get to see them but every few months and it's important both for her and for them to have the time together.)

I've also had a flareup of a painful but minor physical malady I won't discuss in detail except to say that I'm in alot of pain right now but I'll be better in a couple of days. I'm probably destined for surgery (outpatient) to fix said issue but right now I just want to deal with this and get back to where I can concentrate. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to sock class tonight.

Thank you, Secret Pal!!!

Wow, what a lovely gift to receive.

My secret pal rocks. She sent two skeins of Wildfoote in a really pretty dark red with a black tweedy sort of stripe running through it, an equally gorgeous skein of Sockotta in brights in the exact colorway I've been coveting at my LYS, a set of Clover size 2 dpns - my favorite brand of needles, and a Yankee Knitter sock booklet that covers fingering through worsted weight yarns in sizes for the whole family. AND, if that's not fabulous enough, she included a beautiful hand-knit bookmark.

Thank you so much, Secret Pal. You are really spoiling me!

Progress and a big thank you!

First, a long-overdue thank you to my SP who sent me Jelly Bellys and one of those adorable lamb tape measures that I have been coveting. Fabulous, fun gift.

Progress on the Denim jumper: I will hopefully finish it this weekend.


The Nicky Epstein felted bag from VK has been felted.


It's still huge

The roses are also knitted but not sewn up or felted. I'll finish the leaves and then felted the lot and get my sturdiest sewing needle out. So far, I'm not feeling the love. It's done properly, it's just awfully big. I knew what the finished measurements were, but somehow that didn't translate into my brain. We'll see how I feel once the roses are on. If nothing else, it's a really cute project bag.

Note to anyone considering felting with Peruvian Highland Wool form Elann. It felts up nicely but it's the hairiest stuff known to man. Seriously, hobbit feet had nothing on my bag when it came out of the washer. It didn't need a razor, it needed Nair.

um...

Bean sick, in-laws arrive tomorrow. Knitting but no pics. More tomorrow when in0kaws can distract Bean because it's too hard to type with her on my lap.