Color

I realize that it’s Tuesday and I’m a bit late to blogging about the weekend but we had one amazing Saturday.

The morning was a bit scurried. We took Rogue to get her Rabies shot. This is only her third ride in the car and it was a bit rough going at first. Once she got the hang of it her nose prints were all over the passenger side window.

While Jem was at the skate park I had a thought!

A brilliant thought.

How about a slumber party?

I went to the grocery store for provisions: two flavors of ice cream, Cool Whip, Hershey’s Chocolate Fudge, Mrs. Robinson’s Butterscotch Caramel sauce, popcorn, sodas…

And balloons. We had to have balloons!

I set up the house. I lit candles. I dragged the kids twin beds to the living room and then brought out all of our pillows and blankets. We picked out scary movies (“Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Freddy vs. Jason”). We played truth or dare but no one really wanted to shave their eyebrows or streak the apartment building. (Who would?)

It was one of those rare nights when we didn’t have to think about Jem’s ADHD or if Scout would make a mess. It was nice having an impromtu party and we’ve already planned for a Tea Party with lemonade, tea, little cakes and sandwiches. And a Beach Party.

And just sweeten the pot:

{The Plucky Knitter Handpainted Fingering Merino: Saturday Jeans, on top, and Don and Betty, on bottom. Destined to be some kick ass socks! Maybe party socks.}

All That Matters

Spring break is almost over.

The weather can’t decide between windy and warm or cloudy and cold.

We have been spending more time eating out for dinner. It gives us more time to enjoy the Spring afternoons.

I take naps earlier in the morning so Scout and I can spend the afternoon making chalk art on the walkway. Sometimes we just color with whatever medium is closest to us.

I took off a little too much time from the gym. I feel bad about that.

I studied quite a bit of my Western Civilization book. Not so much studying of Poli Sci or Women’s Studies.

I finished reading House Rules by Jodi Picoult.

I started an herb garden and planted some very pretty Gerbera daisies.

I’ve been feuling my unhealthy stash obsession.

And fabric obsession.

Easter Weekend

I’ve been awake for a while. It’s still early. (8:17 a.m.) And it’s raining. It was supposed to rain sometime last week but instead it glossed over us and came a few days late. It started late last evening. Just a few drops here and there. By 11 o’clock last night we had a full on storm raging. It’s a nice change of pace.

Our weekend was bogged down by a lot of errands (mainly to the grocery store because we always manage to forget something). And a little bit of studying (though I admit there wasn’t as much progress on this task as there was distractions to every thing else).

My mom, Shawn and I stayed up late Saturday night. We watched television together, ate dinner (I made Sweet and Sour Chicken special for my mom), and put together two overloaded felt baskets together. Cadbury cream eggs, Robin’s Eggs, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Pixie Sticks, Dove bunnies, Peeps (both pink bunnies and blue chicks), Solid Chocolate bunnies (the first two melted in our hiding spot). There were eggs filled with money. And there were toys! Bubble makers and a special edition box of baseball cards. Yeah, the Easter Bunny was suckered.

He apparently had some influence on Shawn too.

Shawn went a little crazy for me. He bought me the new DVD version of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” (one of my faves) with all kinds of candy. Candy, which, I don’t have to share.

As you can see, the kids got their own.

And as a “Easter gift to myself” I bought some fiber goodness last week.

I plan on using it (Berroco Inca Gold) for an Eastlake sweater. I also was finally able to grab a large bottle of SOAK Aquae so I can block my sweater. (The Minimalist Cardigan is done. It simple needs a bath and some blocking.)

And because Easter reminds me of Dalton, I decided on a little memorial piece.

I’m also happy to report that I made my very first (but certainly not last) Bourbon and Orange Pecan Pie. I had to take a picture from the recipe though. That’s how good it was.

And while I’m technically on Spring Break I believe my relaxation period has come to an end and it’s time to get back to normal living. At least the laundry and the dishes are done. So should I hit the books or do some knitting? After all, it’s only 8:32. I have plenty of time.

Downfall

Like everyone else in the country that is battling this H1N1 swine flu epidemic I have finally succumbed. There’s been snotty noses, vomitting, Kleenex balls, Halls cough drops (citrus flavored only), sneezing fits, hacking up a lung type coughing…

Shawn and I cut our night short yesterday. Instead of dinner we did lunch that I thoroughly was delighted with. We don’t go out to dinner, at least not just the two of us. The best we can do for the four of us is Souplantation. But instead we went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Buca di Beppo.  And then we spent some time at the R/C racetrack where Shawn races his truck. I fell asleep in the car, the iPod still in my mittened hans.

So instead of bowling we ordered a pizza (and a Cinnapie) from Papa John’s and spent the rest of the night home. We watched movies under a blanket and ate the pizza right from the box. All of that seemed fine.

Until it hit me.

I’ve slept most of the day. The other part of the day has been spent wrapped up in my King size microfleece blanket, sitting as comfortably as possible, watching “Perry Mason” movies, and trying to focus on the little tweedy stitches of a new yarn (and a new pattern).

And that’s all she wrote.

As for the giveaway the winner is: Raina. And just because I decided to give out another owl. The second winner is: Abby! Will both of you please email me at iknit (dot) ipurl (at) yahoo (dot) com. I need your mailing addresses and your color preference. Thanks for playing along everyone!

One Weekend

In one weekend you can…

…go to the park twice.

…decorate the house with paper garlands and glittered snowflakes.

…organize my stash of felt.

…go out to eat at one of our favorite burger joints.

…tickle each other and make funny faces.

…finish one book and start a new one.

…clean out my wardrobe.

…put up 150 Christmas lights.

…watch the kids make a creative mess.

…fall asleep to the sounds of the gusting winds.

…go out to dinner with the family.

…knit 5 repeats on a blanket that will be cherished forever.

…try a new recipe with a new twist.

In one weekend you can just be.

Happy Halloween

{Oooh, what’s that?}

{You’re funny!}

{Gimme candy!}

{Trick or Treat!}

{The little witch’s daddy.}

{Hallo!}

{The little witch’s mommy.}

{Scout’s view of mom.}

Pumpkin Patch

With Shawn home on Fridays we were able to attend the Lombardi Ranch Pumpkin Festival without having to brave the elbow to elbow crowds that flock on the weekend. It was a nice day for picking pumpkins. Unfortunately it was also a bad parenting day, weekend I should say. Jem is going through those wonky hormones mixed with ADD and ODD. But I count my blessings anyway. As frustrated as I was, as exhausted as I was, as bad as I wanted to throw my hands up and give up, we made a weekend out of what we could.

{We bought a few gourds for decoration. But when we got home and I really studied it, I asked Shawn, “What was God thinking when he created this thing? Really?” They are just one of the oddest creations.}

{Beautiful colors. Now I know why they call them Indian Corn. Beautiful Indian Summer colors.}

{Fields and fields, and a few more fields, of this shocking orange colored pumpkins. We saw quite a few green pumpkins too.}

{All the kids climbing in, out, and on top of this big pumpkin reminded me of when I was in kindergarten. We had a huge pumpkin that we’d like to play in, especially on a rainy day.}

{We told Scout this was where she would be if she wasn’t a good girl. And then she let out a sinister giggle.}

{Looking for the perfect stem on a pumpkin.}

{Stopping for a bried moment to hang out with Daddy.}

{Sitting down. For a split second.}

{Making creepy crawlies to decorate the house with.}

{A unique piece of artwork.}

{How I make use out of some construction paper, a ghost cookie cutter, some embroidery floss, and a Sharpie pen.}

Trip to the Beach

Out of all the days to go to the beach today should not have been one. After stuffing our faces with croissants and doughnuts on the 101 freeway we took the scenic route up Kanan Road to the beach. We got there early and we ended up leaving early. The fog was a thick as pea soup. We spent about two hours just watching the waves, the surfers, runners and walkers, and the funny little birds that seem to run 20 mph looking for sand crabs.

Even the ocean was a drab gray.

A massive clump of seaweed.

And a very brave, and unrelenting, seagull.

So we didn’t get to swim in the ocean. But we did get home, where it was stick to your car seat interior HOT, and went swimming with Scout. Gotta ♥ having a pool.

Almost Easter

When I was a little girl, (albeit, I was never really little, but young), I absolutely loved Easter. Any holiday that gives you a reason to do arts and crafts and be rewarded with a basket full of chocolate was a-ok in my book. I loved yellow chick Peeps. And Cadbury Eggs. Who doesn’t crave the milk chocolate with fun fillings?

I remember one Easter, I was about ten or eleven, when my step-Grandmother, my step-Aunt and my twin step-Cousins came to California for a visit. The six of us took a trip to Cambria and San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle, in the pouring rain mind you. On Easter Saturday we spent the night at a run of the mill motel. My cousins and I immediately changed into our bathing suits and spent hours in the heated pool and pretended to play pool in the rec room. The next morning everyone slept in, yet the “Easter Bunny” tracked us down and managed to hide some very lovely baskets. And matching pink fluffy bunnies. My cousins and I held onto our bunnies once we got the castle. Years later I found out the my Aunt, Grandmother and mom had all fallen asleep early and forget to hide our stashes. Luckily one of them woke up early in the morning and hid our baskets among the cheap motel furniture.

It’s years later and I still love to color my eggs. I’ve always used PAAS kits, they bring out such gorgeous color on such a simple object. This was Scout’s first year at really getting into the “holiday spirit” and she thorougly enjoyed the little wire dipper that comes with the egg kit. She stomped her feet and slapped the counter when the vinegar didn’t dissolve quick enough. She tried squeezing the eggs. And then she learned she had to gently put them into each cup. And say the color she was using. Purple, pink and blue were easy. Green, not so much.

We also braved the early morning crowds and went for a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo. Every year they have arts and crafts for the kids. There’s also a long line for bunny touching. A few children with broken hearts because they can’t take the bunny with them. Others completely disinterested.

She wasn’t up for the cardboard bunny ears either. What did catch her attention were the gorillas walking around, the giraffes stretching their necks for some green vegetation in the nearby trees, and…

Yes, a bubblegum slushie.

Oh, and one picture with Daddy.

Do you see that delicious little blue and white dress with little birdies? I made that! (I know I haven’t spent much time talking about my sewing classes, as a matter of fact I am not taking them this month or next for Jem is now in football. But I have been indeed sewing and one of these days you will see some of the items I’ve completed. One of these days.)

The rest of the night I’ll be working on Scout’s Easter basket and probably sneaking a few peanut butter eggs, (I’ve traded the yellow chick Peeps for them), and some Cadbury Eggs. Of course.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful Easter.

In Just a Few Days

This weekend was the epitome of rest and relaxation.

I needed this time to lay my head on the soft feather pillows. To curl up into fetal position and wrap myself in the warmth of a down comforter. I took my time washing dishes, letting the hot soapy bubbles comfort my hands. I made banana bread that vanished within hours. A thick warm slab with margarine and sweet orange honey bought from the local beekeepers. I washed laundry and inhaled the sweet scent of detergent. I folded each piece so caringly for each person that would later wear the item. I bleached the floors and rid the many steps we had taken over the past few weeks, a new floor. Maybe a new beginning. And we all took the time to look for Marilyn who has been missing from both our hearts and our home the past four days. Dalton seems content though. He curls into a ball in the middle of our bed. Sometimes you can see the slight twitch of his ear or the whip of his tail. He sleeps hard through this new silence.

I even took time to browse through a couple of knit magazines, thanks to Shawn’s generosity. One left me utterly disappointed. The other left me completely inspired. I had the opportunity to browse through endless patterns in pattern books at the local fabric shop. I was searching for the absolutely perfect Spring dress for Scout. I think I found it. I also browsed the internet looking for the perfect shade of yarn for a sweater that I hope will wrap me in warmth and reverie.

I’m finding that I am enjoying the weekends more as compared to before when they were draining and filled with all these things that needed to be done. I no longer write a list of twenty or thirty things to do. I follow a routine. My bed is always made, the corners aligned perfectly. The pillows fluffed and placed with precision. I no longer dread washing dishes but enjoy the moments where I can look out the kitchen window and see sparrows chasing each other in the cold winter breeze. I enjoy taking out the trash for the moment I hit the crisp air I can breathe in something new, something different, something clean.

I’m not a new person by all means. I just see things in a different light. Or maybe I had seen them all along but forgot how to project them. But I never forget how to share my knitting. My knitting is a reflection of me, of what I do with my spare time. I wrap and turn and pick up and put down so often and yet I can only share the finished project. I can only show you the beauty of what I do and not how I do it. Every day is both the same and yet, somehow, different.

Nutkin Socks Ravelry’d here

Sundara Sock Next Kiss on US 3 needles