Cedar Waxwing

As I walked out of work yesterday after a truly long day, I heard birdsong I had never heard before. I looked around and saw these beauts in a tree. There were about half a dozen and they were so sweet for me to wait for me to get my camera to snap a few shots. Cedar Waxwings have a little tufted feather on top of their heads and as these were juveniles, they were a soft gray with cream bellies brushed with yellow. And those bandit masks? Cute, cute, cute. I've never seen them before; perhaps they were heading home for spring?

More from the land of the ice and snow...

Kidlet and I went sledding. We managed to miss all rocks and bushes.

Another sledding group with two dogs in tow came in as we were tromping home. It was fun to see the dogs tumbling down the hill after the sledders but it made me sad for our old pup. She's got arthritis that keeps her from romping. We can't play ball unless you do one throw and call it quits. She had a hard time getting comfortable last night to sleep. I guess I should look at the bright side, she just hopped up on the couch and curled up, nose tucked between paws. Before she started taking glucosomine, she couldn't do that. I often forget how old she is (she's a perpetual 9 for me when she is actually at least 14) but I don't forget how good she is (well, except for the time she bit Kidlet but that's another story...ha!).

Bye Bye, Spring

...I hardly knew ye.

Ok, it wasn't even officially spring but there's over a foot of snow outside and it's still coming down.

It smells fresh and damp. The sun has been shining for a few days. I opened the windows to catch the fresh air (but it was crazy cold in the house when I got home from work!). My spring fever cannot be stopped! Ok, the usual 'one last giga-cold front storm' that will show up in April will stymie me for a bit, but I'm clinging to every sign of spring I can find.

We made pulla today. It turned out nicely. Recipe found here.

41...an update

Really?! (Crossing number 30 off my list).

I still can't believe my bumbling, losing team just won the Superbowl. Mardi Gras sure is going to be one hell of a party this year...

Next year on my list of "42 things to do in my 42nd year", I'll be sure to write "find a cache of treasure in the yard that pays us so well that we don't have to hold regular jobs anymore." Is that a Monday morning wish or what? At least I'm not hungover like 97.5% of New Orleans right now...

A Day at the Couches

Sometimes a small person and a big person need a sick day complete with pancakes, ginger ale and the Marx Brothers.

When I wake in the middle of the night and can't sleep due to anxiety, I think about yarn.

It helps.

5:20 in the afternoon and there is light and green

I'm ready for Spring.

Wish I was there...

I've got shell buttons on my sweater today. It's my way of carrying the ocean with me.

The First 41 Update

I have a list of 41 things to do during my 41st year. Here is what I have done thus far:

9. Take care of at least one outstanding house project (in progress). We removed the janky old medicine cabinet from the bathroom, painted the wall behind it and need only to get hooks to hang the new mirror.

17. Knit at least two sweaters (does it count that I have one cast on already?) (in progress)
I actually ripped out the one that I had cast on (Liesl) but I am happily knitting on the Garter Yoke Cardigan. Well, at least semi-happily. I have it to get back off the string and on the needles since I just tried it on.

20. Ride a Ferris Wheel (done!)
At Disneyland last month.

21. Skate (ice, roller, or both)
Ice! Proof is above. It didn't last long, however. It was Kidlet's first time and once she fell, unstoppable sobbing ensued and we were done for the day.

23. Find the perfect cake recipe (in progress)
I made this cake for New Year's and it was mighty fine. I just need to get the frosting-to-cake ratio correct and I think I'm golden.

30. Watch New Orleans win the Superbowl (heh heh)
Ummm, it really could happen? I swear the reason they've come this far is because I have not watched a single game this season. As soon as I start checking the scores on the web while they are playing, they start losing. I'm afraid to watch, but I will.

Wish I could stop and sit for a while...

but things are spinning wildly over here. Work has been a bear for the past two weeks. I lived under the threat of jury duty for two weeks (I've been released). The first day of school had me wishing I had taken just one more art history course 20 years ago when it was all still fresh in my head.

I just want to snuggle down with some knitting in front of the fire today but it's onward. Courage. Time to fly.

Reading List for January and Beyond

Some of these are already in my possession, patiently waiting to be cracked open after I read the longest book ever. No, not War and Peace. It's merely The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I started it over a month ago and I (if I am lucky) read about 4 pages every night. I can't stop now, since I'm finally getting to the part where we find who took that infernal jewel. Anyway, I'm feeling list-y and this will help me organize.

Rabbit Redux by John Updike--I read the first Rabbit book last summer and whew. It was definitely a glum read, but oh-so-good.

The Rings of My Tree: A Lativan Woman's Journey by Jane Cunningham--The story of my grandmothers, right here.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall--if I want to be a children's librarian, I should be well-versed in the current lit. Who am I kidding? I just like to read children's books.

And speaking of children's books, we are in LOVE with...Around the World with Mouk by Marc Boutavant. So. Amazingly. Good.

Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver--I have this book and haven't read it for about 20 years, so it might be time for a reread.

The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton

The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara

The Bolter by Frances Osborne--Sounds like a seriously fun read for me. As Kidlet says, "Mama loves 'old timey'."

What's on your nightstand? Read any good books lately?

Yarn-o-topia: Process Versus Product

Let me start this post with a big sigh.

*Sigh*

This school break was supposed to be full of finished products or at least a half bucket of progress. I had started Liesl with some navy blue Cascade 220. I'd cast on, get several inches in and there was inevitably some sort of mistake a couple inches back. A stitch wouldn't get increased and it became quite obvious in the pattern. Or I failed to follow the instructions for the right row. I ended up casting on and knitting (up to 8 inches the final time!) at least six times. I sighed and told myself that I just wasn't feeling enough love for it at this time. I pulled out another Ysolda pattern, the Peaks Island Hood. I wasn't immediately smitten with this pattern when I first saw it, but when I imagined it in the navy blue that I had been toiling with (with big red buttons!), I was obsessed. Good thing I have been obsessed; I've had to cast on and redo the infernal thing about a dozen times. Yes, a dozen times. And I still haven't got anywhere (it's back at the cast on row AGAIN).

Now it's the weekend before school starts and...I have nothing to show. That is, nothing to show but knowledge. With each frogging, I have learned more about the patterns and how little I know about 'reading' my knitting. So in lieu of Liesl and Peaks Island, I decided to give another pattern a try. I just picked up the yarn for the Garter Yoke Cardigan by Melissa LeBarre. I'm doing a Noro Silk Garden yoke with a Lambs Pride Worsted body (a modification I saw on Ravelry and liked greatly). I'm hoping with all the garter and stockinette stitch, I should be able to fly along while I'm hitting the books.

Wow. I can tell how much I hate doing a gauge swatch because I'm blogging instead of knitting. Back to the swatch!

One day sckungk sed too his frend...

and I asked Kidlet, "What did skunk say?" She said, "Let's have a party!" And I died of the cuteness.

By the time I ran to grab the camera, the colors had already started to fade.

20

Happy anniversary, boo. I know I ain't the best wife, but hopefully you'll stick around with me for 20 more years while I figure it out. I love you!

Weren't we young and cute? Sigh.

Happy Belated New Year

How have your first few days of 2010 been? If the past four days set the tone for the year, I'd say it's going to be productive. And well fed.

Back from the blur known as Disneyland. Whew. It was busy, but it sure was fun to hear Kidlet giggle on the roller coasters.

41 for 41

For this year, I thought I'd follow in the esteemed Hula's footsteps and make a birthday list, a list of things to do in my 41st year. Believe me, it's a good thing I started this list a while ago. It's hard thinking of 41 things! However, it appeals greatly to my inner list-maker.

1. Enter something in the state fair competitions
2. Feel the ocean’s mist on my face.
3. Have at least one evening alone with the Hubs
4. Camp! Preferably at least half a dozen times.
5. Make a pair of Latvian mittens (my heritage!)
6. Figure out how to fit exercise into my life
7. Find a film camera with which I can get along
8. Write a poem
9. Take care of at least one outstanding house project
10. Plant as many seeds in the yard as I can
11. Do a month long project (self portrait a day, drawing a day, knitting a swatch a day…)
12. Make and send at least one postcard
13. Visit my Grandmother regularly
14. Get a massage
15. Make ice cream (without an ice cream maker)
16. Play a video game. It's been so long... :)
17. Knit at least two sweaters (does it count that I have one cast on already?)
18. Always try the library first when there is a book I want to read
19. Figure out my plan for the rest of my school career
20. Ride a Ferris Wheel
21. Skate (ice, roller, or both)
22. Finally become a public radio station member
23. Find the perfect cake recipe
24. Learn to take care of myself.
25. Make butter with Kidlet
26. (Re)learn how to do yo-yo tricks
27. Braid my hair
28. Eat an oyster pan roast
29. Drink a gin and tonic
30. Watch New Orleans win the Superbowl (heh heh)
31. Pull out my clarinet and toot a few notes
32. Go back to visit the ichthyosaur
33. Have ice cream for dinner
34. See the Nutcracker
35. Embroider Moomins on something (a bag? a shirt? a pillowcase?)
36. Go to the drive-in
37. Dance more.
38. Make cheese
39. Do a little guerilla knitting project
40. See the Gees Bend exhibit when it comes
41. Build the biggest fort I have ever made with Kidlet

Whew! If you made it this far, you deserve a prize; 41 is a lot. Happy holly-days, friends.