Photos!

So, I promised photos, like I always do. Life gets in the way, like it always does. For example, yesterday, I spent 7 hours in the Pediatric ER at the regional children's hospital so Boy J could get an EKG and chest x-ray to figure out why he had tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and tachyapnea (rapid respiration) with no symptoms other than lethargy. Of course, we figured it out about halfway through when he spiked a fever (and threw up all over me while my husband chatted obliviously with the doctor, who was a long-ago ex-girlfriend of one of his college friends). He's much better today, although Boy E has caught the bug, too.

But...I had babysitting help today, and my regular sitter brought a friend with her who is going to do some babysitting for us, too, so I was able to knit a little, watch the end of The Holiday (cute, but come on, we know what a dog Jude Law really is), and take the some pictures in poor light in my bedroom.

Here is the Vesper sock yarn I was so lucky to score in AquaMelon


and Strange Little Mama



The colors are so vibrant, I can't wait to start my Jaywalkers!

Next is the order of Cider Moon Glacier that made me a Loopy Groupie. First is Pandora Rose:



This is Titania, which I intend to use to make a baby sweater set:



The yarn is just beautiful, and I can't wait to knit with it--only a few weeks to go before I can start my baby knitting.

I also took a picture of my Loopy Groupie swag, but I'm a little embarrassed to post it because my bed is in the background, and although it is neatly made, is does not show up neatly made in the photo. Maybe I'll do it anyway:



So much for embarrassment. Sheri sent a project bag containing my Cider Moon order (and a pattern I ordered), a bag of Loopy kisses (yay! chocolate!), and a skein of Online yarn which did not photograph well.

So, just when I'm about to photograph my Nymphadora Tonks Monkey Socks in progress to send to Shelby, my camera said I filled up my memory card. My 1 Mb memory card. Guess that's another project to tackle.

Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap

Here's the Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap questionnaire:

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why?

Arizona, because I want to go to the Grand Canyon.

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?

UK. I've been to London, but would love to see the rest of England, plus Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Edited to add: Uh, UK is not a country unto itself, but that's my answer and I'm sticking to it!

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?

Yes, I've actually driven the entire Eastern Seaboard (I live in NJ and have driven north to Maine, and south to Georgia and Florida) and have driven to Quebec.

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?

Well, I don't know that it's truly exotic, but I found Prague, Czech Republic to be exotic because it was the first non-Western European city/country I visited, and it had this whole Eastern Bloc, post-Soviet vibe going on. Also Quebec City, because it was so European so close to the U.S.


5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why?

I have a few, actually. My post-law-school-graduation, week-long road trip with my mother from Georgia to New Jersey, with stops in Asheville, NC; Durham, NC; and Colonial Williamsburg, where we celebrated my birthday. The surprise weekend getaway to Gettysburg, PA that I planned and flawlessly executed (if I do say so myself) for my then-boyfriend (who is now my husband), the history buff. The first leg of our unofficial post-wedding honeymoon at the Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, NY. Our official honeymoon six months later, which was two weeks in Prague, Vienna and Italy.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain.

Not really. Anything truly touristy (going to the shore, museums, colonial villages, etc.) was already done through school activities.

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?

Museum visitor, but I like walks on the beach, too. Any sort of risk-taking amusements are long behind me.

8. What's your favorite type of yarn?

Soft, soft wool (itchy stuff irritates my skin), indie hand-painted stuff.

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn?

Acrylic, novelty yarns.

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet?

Knit: socks, hats (baby/toddler/adult), mittens/gloves, baby blankets, baby/toddler sweaters.

Crochet: baby blankets (although I have the IC Babette Blanket in progress for almost a year now, if not longer).

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation?

Too much! I have not traveled since I became pregnant with triplets nearly 4 years ago. But when I used to travel, I would bring 2-3 projects, depending what was in progress, how long I would be away and how large the project was. If I was traveling for work, I would bring one small project that I could work on in transit (this was pre-9/11).

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet?

I needlepoint, but it's really time consuming and I don't have all that much free time.

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise)

Yarn-wise: Nothing that I can recall, but I work with natural yarns.

Treat-wise: nuts, melon (not that I expect anyone to send melon, lol, but extracts of allergens used in things like lotions can make trouble for me)

Also cats and dogs, and I'm sensitive to cigarette smoke.

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite?

Favorites: purples

Least favorite: Burnt orange, teal, muddy colors

I do sometimes foray into colorways that wouldn't otherwise appeal to me, particularly for socks, but this is pretty accurate. You can check my photos on my blog to see the sort of colors I've been working with (or links to yarn I've bought--sorry, I thought I posted more photos than I actually have).

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)? Sweet. Personality too. Mostly.

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know?

I'm just looking for a vicarious vacation, and can't wait to get local flavor from you!

Knitting and ripping and Harry Potter

Ok, so the boys have mostly given up naptime. I'm exhausted. So exhausted that I screwed up my Monkey Socks in Shelby's Nymphadora Tonks colorway and had to take them down three rows at 11:30 at night. And I had picked Monkey Socks because I made them before, they look great, and they look more complicated than they are.

Yes, I'm knitting in anticipation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I'm also re-reading the books, and am up to Prisoner of Azkaban. Unfortunately, I'm reading at an uncharacteristically slow pace, because of the lack of time to read. I may yet get some knitting time back: the boys have napped for the past two days, but I didn't use the time for knitting. I napped yesterday, and saw Ocean's Thirteen today with my sister and her boyfriend). Working against the hope of some naptime knitting time is the fact that Boy M started running a fever today, which if history proves true, will spread to the others this week. I'm just hoping he'll just keep it to himself!

Today was really busy, too, with little time for knitting. We had our first family photos taken today by Julie Walton Shaver. It was fun but exhausting--the whole extended family was there, because, as my mom told me when I found out I was pregnant with triplets and totally freaked out, the triplets are a family project. Julie left a message that there are some really good photos, so now we can't wait to see them!

I also started working again on my secret project. I think I'll take progress photos and post them when the time is right. Of course, I've also screwed that up late at night and had to rip that back too, but what's to be expected when I'm up between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., and prime knitting time begins about 10:30 p.m.!

And finally, I scored some Vesper sock yarn! I've been eyeing the stuff for months, but never was able to find any in stock. On Friday night, I hit jackpot: the site had been updated about 45 minutes earlier and almost all of the yarns were in stock. I bought two skeins and can't wait for them to arrive! I'll post pictures then--I know, that's what I always say, but hey, as of June 18, the boys will be in camp three days a week, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. With all that time, I'm sure I can find some time to photograph stash during daylight hours! One skein is definitely destined for Jaywalkers. Like everything else, I'm behind in knitting and have never made Jaywalkers, or Clapotis, though in fairness to me, the patterns hit when I was first pregnant with the triplets (Clapotis) and when the triplets were about six months old (Jaywalkers).

Oh, I've joined another swap, too: Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap. It's good for me because I love to travel and see new places, and will not be able to do so for another few years. I love to get a sense of another culture and another country--it's one of the reasons why I like foreign films: even if the movie stinks, I can still see another country and get a sense of how people live. Actually, now that I think about it, this vicarious travel thing kind of what the Knitting Gnome Swap is about, too. Guess I have to get my travel fix however I can!

Life interferes with knitting

Well, it's been hard to fit the knitting in. For anyone who is interested in knitting and not potty training (and who could blame you!), scroll down to the pictures.

On Friday, I decided it was time for full-court press potty training of the triplets, who prior to that time were moderately consistent with their alternating use and disregard of the potty. And what a ride it has been! Suffice it to say that we spend pretty much all day in the yard, running in and out of the house to the bathroom. I tried putting the potties outside, but there were too many complaints x3:

"It's too hoooot!" (there was only partial shade in the yard where I put the potties, and at that time, was the only shade)

Boy: "What's that in the potty"
Me: "It's a leaf."
Boy: "I don't liiiike it!"
Me: "It's fine."
Boy: "Noooo it's nooot!"

Need I say more? Plus, they're starting to give up their naps. It's an explosive combination.

Friday, which was Day 1 of the full-court press, nearly gave me a breakdown. For real. It's not hyperbole. Boy E peed every 10 minutes. All the books say to take the child to the potty every 20 minutes. But not Boy E. By the time I got his brothers off the potty, he had already peed through his underwear and/or peed on the floor (he didn't go back outside because he was waiting for his M&M reward). Between his accidents and those of the other boys, we were out of underwear by noon, which meant that I had three boys running in the yard wearing only t-shirts. And I had to use my naptime knitting time for a Target run to buy more underwear. They're getting better, however, the volume of laundry is starting to approach the volume we had when the boys were in the throes of reflux.

Things were so bad that when my husband called to let me know he was stopping on the way to get home and did I need anything, I told him, no, come home. And when he got home, he told me to leave the house. What a gift! I went to my parents, sat in the silence (they were out, too), knit my Colinette Jitterbug socks and listened to Dharmafey's Socks In the City podcast.

Now to the knitting. This is my reward for surviving the first day of the full court press:






YESSSSSS! I scored one of Piddleloop's Collaboration Sock Kits, and it is gorgeous! I can't wait to start--it is my incentive for finishing my Colinette Jitterbug socks. I've turned the heel and am working the gussett of the second sock, so I'm on my way. Actually, here it is inside one of my other Piddleloop project bags, which I love like crazy and think is the best small project bag ever:





I don't always like to be matchy-matchy, so the project bag and notions bag coordinate. And I love 'em! There's a little inside pocket I slip my row counter into, plus loops to hold my sock needles. Now I don't have to stick the ones not being used into the ball of yarn. They're just so cool, and the perfect size for a sock project, or gloves, too.

Piddleloop is a team of two sisters, and I've had a great time emailing with Jen. I had a bunch of questions before I bought my first two project bags, and she was totally cool. Then I ended up emailing her about some needle wallets: the idea is to be able to carry several sizes of sock needles with you when you're starting a project, so you don't have to bring your whole dpn case. Perfect for me! (That's what the flat rectangular thing is in the picture of the contents of the Collaboration Kit). Jen included a few extras: adorable pins, which are also used inside the project bag, a Zer0 stitch marker. And then, I got extra extras:



and



Perfect timing! One, I love accessories, and have been looking at tissue holders on etsy. Two, I just lost my keys, really lost them (I've had my keyring for 20 years, since I was a freshman in college, so that tells you about how I never lose my keys, and consequently, you can infer how challenging things are here for me to have lost my keys in my house and not found them). Also, my sister tried on the headband and it was just adorable! It's been nothing but a pleasure dealing with Piddleloop/Jen, and their products are fantastic!

On a different note, peony season is finally here. I love peonies, particularly the fragrant old hybrids. Neither my mother nor I have the old hybrids in our garden, but hers are still beautiful:





Mine just opened so hopefully I'll get some pictures.

Button, button, where's my button?

Duuude, I've got buttons! Check 'em out in the left-hand column!

So much for May Flowers

Yeah, I think that Timberline sock is going on the back burner again. I just about finished the garter stitch wedge toe when I tried it on. (Yes, Ms. Lucy Neatby says to try it on often, but did I think the toe would be nearly finished after doing the three repeats of the decrease on the first row and garter on the other three?) Plus, the toe was just too wide! So now I'm going to take it back into the stockinette and start the toe earlier in the pattern so that the sock isn't too wide. But frankly, I'm not in the mood. I feel Perchance to Knit's Irises calling to me--I've been toting it around in my knitting bag (I have that big Namaste knitting messenger bag with the expandable zipper, perfect if you're like me and not sure which project you'll be in the mood to work on) along with Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks (sneaked out of Mom's library, not that she's ever knit socks) and More Sensational Knitted Socks. Maybe I'll give that a try. In fact, I think I'll go now! And...it can still be May Flowers! Irises are in bloom here.

Also, the Knitting Gnome Swap has begun! Gnorm and Gnuman the Gnomes have begun their travels, and it looks like they're having a great time! Check them out here. Now, if only I could save buttons to my blog. I've read a couple of tutorials, but for some reason, it still doesn't work. Can anyone help? Please?!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it's my birthday. We kicked off with a massage last night, a gift from the kids--who made me earn every second of that peaceful, relaxing hour! Baby Girl's holding up her end by keeping the fever down (with help from our friend Children's Motrin). I got "happy birthday" from everyone, including Baby Girl (yay!) when I came downstairs this morning.

I pretty much have the day off--woohoo! I had breakfast with Mom and Dad, and spent the morning knitting and catching up on The Office and Dancing With the Stars. I've been working on the Timberline sock and have come to a realization: it's pretty boring knitting roughly 7.5-9 inches of stockinette instep. I definitely need to work patterns in my socks. I'm thinking second sock syndrome is going to hit me, because I think first sock sock syndrome is sneaking up on me (it's probably not really sneaking, considering I started the sock in March).

Oh, and now I'm a Loopy Groupie! I'll have to take photos and post.

Back to the birthday. I returned home for post-children's nap birthday snacktime celebration. I got a yummy Carvel ice cream cake with Thomas the Tank Engine on it. I think only 3 children (maybe 2) cried when everyone sang "Happy Birthday," but it works! Ice cream cake for snack was a big hit! Then, my parents took the children out. So now, it's off for a little bit of knitting before the horde returns for dinner!