Big day and a brush with fame

I spend alot of time thinking about what to write about and then never do, so I don't know where to start because, mentally, it's all been said, but here goes.
I know that it's good luck to rain n on your wedding day. What does it mean when there's a super-scary thunderstorm on your last day of work - especially when a tree by the door gets hit by lightning? Does that mean uber-good luck or major doom? Yes, my working days are done for now. I feel free and light. (I won't discuss my last day of work. My feelings are still hurt.)
On her blog, Jenny discussed feeling like she's been stuck on spin cycle. Me? I'm under water or something - I'm moving but nothing seems to be happening. Everyone else is going along as normal, I'm just not accomplishing much. I'll get things done, though. It will just be awhile.
I'm feeling a little famous in my head right now. See, I'm friends on ravelry with Carin from the Lime and Violet podcast. In my initial message to her, I commented on her Monkey socks and asked if it was her favorite pattern. On last week's podcast she said that it is her favorite pattern. It was like she was speaking to me. Hee.
I finally got my "garden" going yesterday. I went to Kmart and bought my tomato plants, marigolds, and some snazzy new gardening gloves.(Khloe and Megan "cleaned" the shed, and I can't find my old gloves. Neither can they.) Yes, my whole garden is tomatoes. The marigolds are supposed to keep bugs and rabbits away. I like working in the yard. I feel more connected to the world or something. I just don't mow. That's what teenage neighbors are for. And stepdaughters.
I've put the knitting on hold for a moment. It seems my psyche was craving comfort, so I'm crocheting a throw. It won't be big, just enough to cover my legs and chest. Eric thinks it's very colorful - black and white. Fortunately, crocheting is really fast. I should be back to the sock soon. I need to finish it quickly - my sock club package will be coming this week, and I'd like to work with it. Summer of Socks is still a couple of weeks off. I've got some things ready - yarn caked up, patterns selected. I know I won't win. I'm excited about getting good at making socks. Kid socks don't count - my two want some slipper socks, so those will be started soon. Yep, just in time for warm weather and sunshine.
Happy Memorial Day.

Emotionality, part two

I'm really having a hard time with the news lately - all of the tragedy in the world makes my soul hurt. I really want to do something to help all of the people who have lost so much around the world, but I can't seem to find any information about groups that are collecting things. I'll have to search harder - someone must be doing something.
One week until my SAHM days begin. The kids and I have decided on some things - reading time, for example. They both want to spend time at the library, too, looking at the displays and playing with the things there. I'm so glad that I won't be driving anymore. I spent about an hour and a half in my car just getting to and from work. There's no way I could afford to keep doing it - and I hate the wasted time. I've been listening to my podcasts in the car lately, which makes it more bearable, but when I can listen to a whole Lime and Violet, I've been in the car too long.
The second Bellatrix sock is coming along slowly. I think I've lost my enthusiasm for it - it doesn't fit very well. My fault - should've used a bigger needle size. I'll know better for next time.

Emotionality

I've had the most draining week - again. A new girl started at work to replace me, yet I'm not the one who's training her, so I feel really unwanted right now - and they celebrated her birthday after they forgot mine. It's very disappointing that after all this time I'm kind of set aside. I've spent alot of time this week on etsy - yes, I bought some yarns. (No comments, please, mom!) I also picked out a couple of rovings because Jenny said she'd teach me to spin.
Speaking of etsy, our shop is up! There's only a couple of skeins so far, but more is coming! Check it out:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5699933. Support the knitting community - buy our yarn or some of the other wonderful indie yarns there.
The lilacs are so pretty right now. I need to take some pictures before the moment is gone. My roses are getting lots of leaves and new stems. The tree that I ordered should be here soon - a weeping pussy willow. I've been eyeing one for a couple of years. It will be so pretty by the porch. I love watching everything bloom.
I also love that my summer starts in two weeks!
Happy Mother's Day!

Sock Crazy!

I think I've lost my mind - well, again - but this time it's socks. I'm still working on the Bellatrix. I had one done and then noticed that the toe section was twisted and had to frog back and do it again. Frustrating. But - here's the crazy part - I joined Socktopia, a knitalong group that has a new pattern each month. In fact, the Bellatrix pattern is from the group. Then I signed up for Summer of Socks 2008. It's kind of a contest and knitalong at the same time. There's a two month and a couple week time frame to make as many socks as possible - adult socks. (I won't be making a pair for Eric- he has huge feet!) So, to keep with the whole theme of last week I joined a sock-knitting book club. Each month this summer we will get a skein of hand-dyed yarn to knit with while we read the selected book. (For more info, see Knitting in Nature on the sidebar.) My summer will be full of socks. I should be pretty good at them by the time fall rolls around.

Big News!

I have been a single working mom essentially since I found out that I was expecting - my kids' dad is, well, crap - to put it mildly. This spring has brought alot of stress to me, though. Kerry was expelled from daycare last fall and the end of the year is coming fast. Daycare is really expensive and the one we can't go to is the one that has assistance. Gas prices are going crazy, too, and I drive about forty minutes just to get to work. Well, Eric and I have been talking alot about my options, and he's agreed to let me stay home with the kids all summer! Wooo! I'm in a bit of shock, of course, but so excited. I've been with my job for a very long time. It will be really weird to not get up early to get there. And, of course, there's the whole thought of being alone with my kids for the whole summer - every day, all day. It's a huge lifestyle change. I'm really thrilled to have the opportunity, though. Wish me luck!

In other news, Khloe is healing up nicely. She will probably only have a little scar. She's back to being fearless and started tumbling classes last week. Here's a picture of her with Grandpa - aren't they cute?

On the yarny front, I finished a shawl but don't have any pictures of it, although I wore it out to dinner Saturday night. I'll discuss it more when you can see it. I'm going slow on the sock because I started a clapotis. That is so far my favorite pattern. I'm making it in laceweight that I dyed in the Ravenclaw movie colors. (Unfortunately, it's the same colors as the Dallas Cowboys. Oh, well, what can you do?) I'm already in the eighth increase section - I'm making it big since the yarn is so little. This is my first time using laceweight, so I wanted a project that I'm confident with. No frustration right now, please!

I've been dyeing a little - I ran out of yarn and had to get some more. It's interesting to look at the hand-dyed yarns on etsy. Every dyer has such a unique style. Anna's is so natural, Pixie's is bright and bold, some are clear sections of color, and some flow like, well, paints going down the drain when you rinse out brushes. Beautiful skeins are really works of art, I think, and I hope that someone sees my work as beautiful.

That's all for this morning. I'll try to be a better blogger as my time frees up.

Just wondering...

I took Khloe to her first tumbling class tonight, and as I worked on my sock and watched my girl do cartwheels I listened to the moms behind me. The list of activities they have their kids in is staggering. When is it too much? It wears me out just hearing all of their stuff. Their kids must do their homework in the car between dance and karate or something. Jeesh. I may not be supermom but I know that kids should be kids and have fun while they can.
It has really warmed up outside. My roses are getting leaves! Yay! The grass is green and pretty. I'm so glad it's finally nice - we had such a long, crazy winter. It will feel so good to be out working with my plants and getting the yard pretty. Aahhh....spring.

What a Week

I'm glad that last week is over. It was crazy. I ran out of my happy medicine just as the pms hit stronger than usual, Khloe had an attitude with me, Eric was feeling icky and was therefore crabby, and I had cramps so bad that I had to leave work early on Friday. I started to set up for some serious dyeing on Saturday - no kids, Eric was out - just me and some yarn - when the phone rang - it was the ex telling me that Khloe had fallen and probably needed stitches but he couldn't get her to the hospital. I had my parents get her and meet me at the emergency room. It was a nasty gash in her little chin. She was very upset. I kept my cool and worked a little on a WIP while we waited. My baby now has six stitches right under her chinbone. She's still beautiful. Oh, and she found out how Grandpa really feels about her - he wasn't even off the phone with me before he was out the door to get her and stayed at the hospital with us until she was done. He checked on her first thing Sunday morning and each day since. Yup. He's SuperGrandpa, all right.

I'm really trying to make this week better. I started by finishing my $5 in Paris sweater. It looks so good, too. Unfortunately I chose the wrong yarn to use. It's very itchy so I'll have to wear it layered which isn't quite the look I was going for, but the wool will be nice and warm next winter.

I have alot of other sweater patterns to choose from, both from books and online. I'm going to make a few more. I love sweaters and know I'll feel great wearing one that I've knit myself - I love wearing my crocheted ones. I'll be crocheting a couple more, too. Since it's warming up, though, I want to work on smaller projects - who wants a lap full of warmth on a warm sunny day? I want to make several pairs of socks. There are so many beautiful designs and yarns. I'm loving all of the lacy scarves, too. Oh, speaking of socks, my Bellatrix is coming along nicely. I really love this pattern. Even though this is still my first pair of them, I have more planned.

The yarn dyeing has been so much fun for me. I've discovered that I prefer kettle dyeing to painting because it's easier to do other things, too. Here is what I've done so far. Only two of them will go in the shop. The blue and gray on top is laceweight and will become a clapotis soon. My first try at kettle dyeing is the purple in the middle and it turned out too pretty so I have to keep it. It will be great with a lacy sock pattern. I'm sure I have several to chose from.

Oh, yeah, that's something else from last week - I decided to try to settle myself down by doing some pattern browsing, and found that Magknits is gone. Gone. I had several patterns there that I wanted to do. Now I need to wait for the designers to put them up on ravelry or their blogs or just pout and do without. Hmmm...maybe the purple would be good for Jaywalkers. (I did find that pattern already, thank goodness.)

No, I don't know how to link to things by clicking on the name, like clapotis or jaywalker. I'm kind of slow with computers. Maybe one of you can show me how. Hint, hint.

Well, I think that's all for now. Talk to you again soon!