Enchanted Mama

Today::

"It was on of those still days of intense light, when every particle of mica in the soil flashed like a little mirror, and the glare from the plain below seemed more intense than the rays from above.  The sand ridges ran glittering gold out to where the mirage licked them up, shining and steaming like a lake in the tropics.  The sky looked like blue lava, forever incapable of clouds---a turquoise bowl that was the lid of the desert."   The Song of the Lark

This book has captured my imagination.  I'm enjoying it so much I wish it wouldn't end though I do have a few other books to finish.  The knitting in my life is undergoing some airing out and re-thinking.  I had a number of pending projects and have recently gone through them and cleared out all those which I do not, for one reason or another, want to finish.  Wrong color. Wrong style. Wrong idea.  It feels good to have done that and I plan on chatting with you about that later.  

There is a knit project happily floating in a cold bath upstairs.  Soon to be dried and blocked. I'm anxious to share as this particular project hung out on the needles for way too long. There may have been a moment, when the last stitch was cast-off, that I took a deep breath and whooped.  A big loud whoop!  I love completing things.  My dear grandfather, a good 'ol Iowa boy, would smack his hands together when completing a project and say, "Okay, what next."  That was how I felt. Happy to have it finished and eager to further empty my knitting basket.  

I've journeyed out this past week, hence the radio silence, to visit a dear friend and her new baby girl. Such a sweet little one.  We spent time chatting, knitting, getting the mama's feet up and watching her two boys build fort after fort at the park.  We ate yummy soup and took care of the mama as much as we could.  Grateful that she let me come and spoil her abit.  Just what we all need once in awhile, don't you think?

I'm working on laundry today and reading books with my girlie.  There is a long list of things that tell me they need to get done, though with the cloudy weather outside I'm not as motivated as I would like.  

Maybe just one more book?  A few more rows?  Another latte?  

Love to know about any great books you are reading.  Always can use a good book recommendation!  

Have a lovely day, 

Kellen

 

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Knitting and gnomes::

A challenge::

Snow Angels::

Oh.my.goodness.  It's hard to say who had the most fun!  

Christmas day, before "the fever" hit, found us bundled and trudging off to the park.  Time filled with laughter, squeals, running, pouncing, frozen hands and "just one more".  I pulled the "photographer" card, thank goodness.  Though it looked like a tremendous amount of fun I was grateful to be warm and documenting it for the family.  Next time though, I will leave the camera at home because sometimes warm is over-rated.  Sometimes attempting to out-run a nine year old can be memory making.  Sometimes the snow pile is quite joyful to be in the thick of. 

Any snow in your part of the world?  

 

 

Knitting and gnomes::

There was BIG knitting going on around here last weekend.  With size US19 needles and three strands of yarn pulling through my fingers I tackled that project.  As one good friend said, "Big knitting means faster results."  Another friend piped in with "...and some sore wrists wielding those needles."  Both are correct.  I've had to knit less with the big needles yet it went so quickly when I did...I wonder if I actually saved any time?  Loving this pattern.

These cookies came out of the oven smelling divine and were gobbled up by me, I mean the children. There was warm chili ala the big daddy bubbling on the stove.  There were clementines eaten by the handfuls.  An advent spiral for our dear five year old.  Our littlest girlie decided to participate and carried her candle into the spiral, lit it, set it down, and walked slowly out.  Determined she is and oh-so-wonderful.    

There were alot of closed doors with posted signs.  Secret outings were made to the hardware store and bags held close as supplies were hidden.  I have to admit I'm a bit curious.  The two older children have not wanted my help this year which is frankly, too much.  I keep hinting that if there are "things" they need just let me "know".  No one's biting.  It's half frustrating and half satisfying.  My children are growing up and creating on their own!  It's what we want right?  Yet...it's all I can do not to want to "help" just a small bit.  I think it comes down to whether or not I can wait to find out their surprises until the holidays!   

Ideally though, it leaves more time for my own creating.  A lovely thought.  So I keep making lists.  Lists of how and when to complete "the project" that I haven't started yet.  I'm not sure if I believe my time to be unlimited or if the speeding days on the calendar are getting to me.  Either way someone ought to get to work....asap!  

Just for good measure there seems to be an outbreak of "gnome" in the house.  They are everywhere.  Smiling from the shelf.  Being hugged.  Hanging around.  Baking bread.  It's...well...so GREAT!!! I love gnomes.  I don't really know why.  

I bet that's something you always wondered about me, isn't it?  

What about you?  Are you feeling crafty these days?  Doing creative things?  Baking?  Making lists?  

Let me know I'll be here waiting and...looking over my lists.   

 

Over the Rainbow::

Even though my guy asked me, for a year, for a rainbow sweater I can't say he was over the moon about this one.  He smiled slightly when opening it on his birthday...though not as broad a smile as when he opened his elephant or the puzzle.  

That's okay I suppose.  It is the risk we take as knitters.  Never quite knowing if the recipient will love or not love the item.  Whether it will fit or whether you have to re-do the neck three times like I did.  

It's a gamble.  One I'm usually willing to take.  Although with this recent sweater, the "Rainbow Sweater", I may have started to think differently.  First of all I finished on time.  No late night, before the birthday knitting like some other years.  In fact, this sweater had time to block as well as dry!  

The moment that changed me came after he opened it.  Yes, I was disappointed not to have received the full chandelier smile for a job well done on the long awaited rainbow sweater.  Of course, I would have loved that.  It really wasn't when the big daddy had to convince him to look at the sweater for longer than two seconds.  The moment happened when we went to have him try it on.  You knitters out there, I know, can see this coming a mile away.  We put it over his head and wait!...It didn't even come close to making it over his head.  NOT.EVEN.CLOSE.

Deep breathing at that point wasn't really helping.  After weeks of gleefully planning and scheming and knitting this was NOT what I had expected to have happen.  I believe I took the sweater gently from his aching head, as I will admit that I did tug a bit thinking that somehow this couldn't, shouldn't be happening, and set it on the table behind me.  A small time out for the sweater.  

A week later after feeling sick to my stomach about what to do I just buckled down and did it.  I ripped it out. The whole neck. Then commenced on a different type of neck and voila...it fit!  Well almost.  It's not as roomy as I would like.  I've decided though that seeing it on him finally made me ignore that little fact.  

So, that's it.  The rainbow sweater.  The good and bad of it.  Though at this point I can almost forgive the sweater when I see my little guy swinging in the front yard, rainbow flying in the air.  

I've decided that there will be no more secret knitting...at least that is what I say now.  Time will tell.  I'm serious though.  I'm pretty sure....

Ravelry notes here. 

Simple Joys::

My littlest guy reminded me of something this past weekend.  Something it seems I'd forgotten.  

Play dough.

Yes, simple homemade play dough.  The easiest thing in the world to make.  Simple Joys.  

I'd made play dough many times before this.  I even spoke of it here.  You would think I'd remember this bit of fun. 

So, my guy had been asking for new play dough, blueberry colored play dough, to be made since Saturday. I suspect the prompt came because the other yellow play dough we had was way past it's prime.  As in, completely caked and dried to every play dough utensil we own.  

My excuses were running wild.  I kept saying things like, "Okay honey, tomorrow."  Or "I'm not sure I have enough salt, I'll have to check."  Or  "Not now it's bedtime!"  

Truthfully, I'd forgotten how easy it is. really easy.  Yet, the happiness yield is GREAT!  

 

After lunch today he cornered me next to the apples and the onions.  He kept saying, "Mommy, PLEEEAASSSSEEEEEEEEE."  You know subtle hints.  If I'm honest, I may have considered another excuse to sling his way but the scene was too hilarious.

Since you're looking at the pictures you know how this story turns out.  Though the scene in the kitchen included an energetic four year old and his little sister the parrot jumping up and down yelling, "Mommy, please.  Mommy please.  Mommy, please!"  Pretty funny.    

Two hours they played.  Two hours.  They owned a bakery sold delicious treats like cookies and muffins and pasta and pizza.  I know because I sampled a few.  

At one point my little guy said, "Mommy you're fun."  Enough said little man.  High praise indeed!  I'll make you play dough anytime.  

 

Here is a tried and true recipe from my childhood...oh, and I doubled the recipe.

Homemade Play Dough::

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cups of water

2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

1 tablespoon of oil

Food coloring

Essential oil...we used lavender.

Put the top five ingredients in a pot on the stove on medium heat.  Stir until it forms into a ball.  Throw it onto the counter and add the coloring and essential oil.  I kneaded the dough a bit before handing it off to the little ones.  They loved kneading the warm dough that smelled of lavender. yum.  

Then, play for hours.  

Store in an airtight container when finished playing otherwise you end up with a hard ball of dough and that's not fun to play with at all.    

 

Here's to another week.  Fall must be on it's way right?  It simply must be.  It is October 1st for goodness sake.    

What are you working on today?