I have no words...

My dad passed away on Saturday at 6:30 am. He'd been in the hospital since the previous Friday. And while last week was a rollercoaster ride, I'm sure this week will bring just as many dips and turns. It may take me awile to gather my bearings.

About the California Fires...

I've been getting emails about the fires. So, I thought I'd share this map and you can look for yourself. I've been checking back with this map to see the containment of each fire. We live about where Anaheim is. Home of Mickey Mouse (Disneyland) and the Ducks (Stanley Cup Champions). We're out of immediate fire danger. But because of the air quality spent 2 days inside. The kids were so excited play at the park today. We had the Pumpkin tour at the Arboretum, then went to a park to decorate faux pumpkins, picnic, and play.

As I try to get 2 down for a nap, I'm making phone calls for my mom. Things have taken a turn for the worse with my dad. We're all at peace though. It must be all the prayers.

Thank You Ursula

Ursula was my upstream partner in the FFBE. I had a great time emailing her...and look forward to getting to know her better now that I can read her blog too. I love the bag she made me. You should check it out on Ravelry. I finally get a new camera, and I don't want to head outside because of the ash in the air. So, the best daylight I could do was close to the windows.

I love the "flower theme" that I was spoiled with. Hmmm...maybe as there are fewer flowers in the yard I'll try to include knitted flowers for Friday Flowers. I'll definitely have plenty I can knit up...There's the Nickey Epstein book, a tulip kit, and a daffodil pattern. I just got the Holiday IK and I think the Nashua will be the Koolhaas Hat, it's worsted...so I'll just have to see if I get gauge. I like the photos on Brooklyn Tweed's page better than the ones in the magazine. And, I'm definitely a sucker for architecture inspired knits. I may have to come up with a few of my own one day.

And just look at how cute these flower kits are. I saw them online, but I'd never seen one in a store.
And the hat...it will be hard to decide if I should knit a hat for 2 or for myself first. I'm definitely a hat girl. And we don't really need them for warmth here...so it's all about fashion.

And I love the fireflies in the jar on the card. I haven't caught any of those since I was 10 and visiting family in the South.

My Dad...

He's doing better. Sunday afternoon they finally got his blood pressure and other numbers stable enough to move him to a room. Before that, he was in Critical Care which is sort of a triage area after the ER. He is scheduled for an angiogram this morning. But that can only happen if they've drained the fluid from his lungs. They've been working on that all weekend. It's hard to not know. My kids are doing OK with the information. 2 doesn't really know. 4 only gets it slightly. But 5 (almost 6) is concerned. He knows that Papa is diabetic. 5 will turn down fries at McDonald's for the apple slices because he wants to make healthy choices. He gets that some of this is genetic (both of Papa's parents died of heart health issues). And he gets that some of this is lifestyle related. That's quite a bit of information for a little one to take in.

My dad has been my greatest supporter Knitwise. My Memorial Day shopping spree. And then, these...

Miss Me talked about how the woodworkers at her office maybe liked the new Harmony needles from Knitpicks more than the knitters. I knew that would be the case. In the spring, my dad made me these. They are wenge wood. The nob at the end isn't added on...it's turned as part of the piece. Since these were a trial run, none of the 3 are quite the same gauge. Still, I'll probably knit a scarf of something where gauge doesn't matter. My dad is one of those wood workers that would be more excited about the needles than me. But, I purposely haven't showed them to him yet. Maybe I'll let him look at the catalogue that came. I need to look at my current needle collection to see what I need. I like the chart on Ravelry...just need to take the time.

More Backpacks

Backpacks are important to my kids. When I bought them new backpacks this summer, they wore them around the house for days. Often using them for their orange kitties. Before that, the boys had Bob the Builder backpacks that they used for their tools. As long as I gave them "jobs" they were "fixing" things around the house. This week, it's been all about Love Packs for Liberia.

We shopped Target and the 99cent store to fill these packs with notebooks, construction paper, coloring books, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, markers, colored pencils, rulers, solar calculators, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap, washcloths, combs, hair rubber bands, jump ropes and more. The kids had so much fun shopping for kids in Liberia. I'm glad they like to give as much as they like to receive.

Heart Attack

I just spoke with my mom. My dad is being admitted to the ICU right now. He had a heart attack this morning. I know I can deal. I mean it's hard, but I can deal. I don't know how to tell my kids.....

Thanks for your prayers.

The City Bag

It appears that I have problems following a pattern. Let's be optimistic and say that it's the designer within me. I started off with this Moda Dea pattern. But instead of the listed yarn, I wanted to use Patons SWS. Then looking at the pattern I didn't want to sew and fold in the corners, so I knit a bottom to the bag. And after 3" or so I realized that this wouldn't be big enough at 90 stitches like the pattern called for, so I frogged and added stitches. I don't know if I could say that this even bears resemblance to the start point.

With US 11 24" circ. CO 78. Join Round. Knit 1 round, Purl 1 round.

Round 3: *Increase in next 3 stitches by knitting in front and back, K 36, Repeat from * ...84 stitches.

Round 4: Knit one round.

Round 5: Increase Round: *(K1, Knit Front & Back) 3 times, K 36, Repeat from * ...90 stitches.

Round 6: Purl

Round 7: Increase Round: *(K2, KFB) 3 times, K 36, Repeat from * ...96 stitches.

Round 8: Knit

Round 9: Increase Round: *(K1, KFB) 6 times, K 36, Repeat from * ...108 stitches.

Round 10: Purl

Knit for 18". For me, that was 72 rows.

Switch to US 10 24" circ. and knit in garter stitch for 6 rounds (when knitting in the round, that's knit one row, purl one row). Bind off Purlwise. This is what I took from the original pattern. I really love the way the smaller needle tightens up the top of the bag without decreases. I LOVE the Purlwise BO.

I wanted a firmer handle, so the 4 stitch I-cord is knit with a double strand of the SWS. Knit 2 handles, 34" each. I wove the handles into the bag and knotted the ends. Here's a look of the felted bag stretched onto a box of glad trash bags.

I love the concentric pattern on the bottom.


And the finished bag...

I called this "The City Bag" because it reminds me of a paper shopping bag with longer handles. I love using Brighton bags to carry my knitting in because the handles are longer. And anyone who lives in Northern California knows that San Francisco is "THE CITY"! This bag arrived at it's new home yesterday. I know Allison is enjoying it. =0)

***ETA :: Mary, I never could figure out how to put the tabs on for the scarf/belt option. I finally gave up.

Thank You!

My FFBE box arrived yesterday. Right in the middle of a small panic. My husband was in the ER for a few hours yesterday...thinking he would have a spinal tap...that's why our Dr. had sent him over. Instead he came home with a shot and some muscle relaxers. He didn't have enough of the other symptoms for meningitis. Still, it was scary for a while there. Isn't it just perfect how "wooly hugs" come just when they're needed. Thank you Ursula! I love the bag. My mom was so impressed with the pockets. I think I'll have to make one like that for her...what's the pattern? Or did you post that on your blog? I get my new camera tomorrow...so I'll take photos for a proper post then. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Really?

I didn't expect this...

Found you!
You signed up on August 29, 2007
You are #29802 on the list.
149 people are ahead of you in line.
14870 people are behind you in line.
57% of the list has been invited so far

I waited until after we officially started homeschooling. I thought I'd get invited about Christmas time...and we would be taking a school break. Oy! How am I going to school next week when I'll be dreaming of checking this out?

How did I ever get so behind?

It was never my intent to go this long without a post. I'm thinking that about now, having 2 blogs is going to get harder and harder. I'm keeping the homeschool stuff so that our family can see what we're up to here. But, I was a little behind with those posts. And so I did what I could, but I may have to go back and add photos when I get a camera again. But catching up there kept me from blogging here.

Blogging without a camera isn't fun. M ordered one, but didn't pay extra $$$ for shipping, so who knows when it will be here. I'm really excited, since it's nicer than the last one I had. Hopefully that means I can take better photos.

So, I've finished 2 more ladybug purses. I still need one more, but not for a few weeks.

I knit 2 more repeats on the Diamonds and Pearls. I think it was the anxiety of the MRI that made the YO's so difficult. It's much easier than I anticipate. And I can see what people mean by memorizing a lace pattern. I won't be doing much of that for awhile, but I may try when I catch up with all my projects in the cue.

I bought some KPPPM at Wildfiber. (I know...I haven't blogged about that visit yet. And surely it deserves it's own post. I am working on a review for Anne though.) I CO for the Fingerless Garter Mitts from the One Skein book. I'm just a few rows from finishing the first one. This was my first taste of US #1s. I thought I'd try this before trying socks on tiny needles. It's not so bad...

...but when I went back to Morestripes, I felt like I was knitting with baseball bats and not US #7s. I think some of that had to do with the fact that the needles are 14" long...and I've been using tiny ones or circulars. I totally need to keep notes. I set that project down so long ago, I had to count stitches on the needle to see what size I was knitting. I know why I set it down...I was ready to do the arm shaping on the back. I didn't have time then to go look at the pattern. I can't believe it's just BO 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 8 rows!!! What was I waiting for. Our weather is perfect today for me to be wearing this. I started working on this again last night. The front is lots less stitches, so that should go quick...but the steeking. I'll be praying.

My FFBE box is in the mail. And one is heading to me.

#8

8 years ago I married the love of my life.

We met in college. Our friends decided that we needed to be a couple before we could even consider what we thought about it. I'd head out to lunch with Jen, Elena and Negar...and then oh, someone forgot their purse in the car. They would all run to the car and drive away. Leaving me at the restaurant. They'd so conveniently invited M. He was there waiting...and inside the girls had called ahead for a reservation for 2. They were persistent.

For me, it was more than just a cute boy though. It was important for me to find a boy with values that matched mine. I knew that only then could I give my heart away.

Long story short...when I was in China for the summer, M went to harvest crusade with his neighbors. He knew what I believed, but I wasn't going to be the one to share with him...I didn't think that would be good for our future. Before that night in 1996, he'd read this book just to get it all clear in his head. He was so excited to tell me about the change in his life when I returned home. I had spent the summer getting over him. I was convinced that even though he was "perfect" a marriage would never work out.

6 months later, we were dating again. This time knowing that it was for good. He proposed on a cliff over looking the beach. (If I remember I'll post about that in December when it happened) We were married the next fall. We spent 2 nights in Newport Beach before heading to Boston. We loved Boston so much, we actually started looking at apartments and considered just staying.

I'm so glad that he picked me...that I picked him...that on that 100 degree day in October I married the only man I'll ever love.

You

Friends, Community, Conversations, Inspiration.....

This is my 100th post. I started my blog last fall...but didn't get posting until after the 1st of the year. And even then, I didn't know how important this would become to me until I joined the SFBE.

K.Anne, my SFBE downstream pal, commented on my wire knitting that she was in the process of a Bauble. Her's was done...before I could wait for her to post pictures, I had to make one. This is a bit more gaudy than what I usually wear...to be honest...my usual jewelry is just my wedding ring and a watch. I think I'll add this to my Christmas gift pile. (gotta love the Hello Kitty bandaid...we don't have any plain ones here) I bought the beads on a whim...and they weren't the size called for...but I knit anyways. This still took me 2 nights to thread the beads. There was some hint about making a gadget to string beads...and if I were to make a bunch of these as gifts that would totally be the way to go.

In June, I won a blogiversary contest (honorable mention) over at Days Go By, and Nancy sent me some great yarn. I immediately remembered this scarf pattern that I had pulled from a magazine 2 years ago.

I had misplaced the pattern sometime in July...and just found it between the pages of my Mason-Dixon Book. I cast on for this the night of my MRI. When compared with the magazine photo here, the yarn looks purplish...and it's not...but he magazine photo isn't peachy either. I love the diamonds...but the is a huge step for me. It's hard to keep all the YO's straight. I have to count every stitch. I've knit this first repeat 3 times.

And in my SFBE loot, Miss Me, my upstream pal, sent me a pattern for a Lucy Bag, and yarn too. I don't think I've ever told her that I've cast on for this so many times. I think it's my fault, that I can't read a pattern. I end up knitting on auto pilot and can't remember to increase. It's currently frogged. The needles you see in this photo are US 10 1/2. The pattern calls for 10's. I wanted to start with shorter DPNs and work up to my longer ones before putting this on a circ. Well...I only have short 10 1/2s and long 10s. I didn't read the writing on the needles until I saw the change in gauge... I'm going to CO for this again once my FFBE bag is in the mail.

I was knitting the Lutea lace shoulder shell, and looked at other blogs on the Unsocialized knitters ring, and found Tammy who was knitting the same thing. I'm just trying to school one...and there are only 3 children in my house. I totally don't know how she gets all this knitting done with 5 boys.

And she is reading this book with Julie, and they've invited me to read along. Julie: I have the book. I picked it up at B&N over the weekend. I can be a quick reader, but I have 2 more girls purses to finish this month.

I'm so excited for the FFBE to be revealed...and for the new friends I've made along the way. U.P. this photo is for you. It's the Cranberry Maple Nut...and it's almost gone. I just bought the Loaded Fruit & Nut too.

If I keep mentioning friends I've made, I'll never finish this post. I've come a long way since January 2007. I really needed this blog in my life when I started. And this week has been a lesson in how much I've come to depend on it. When Miss Me told me about her 100 things, I decided I wanted to do something special for my 100th post. I started typing this last week, but just couldn't get it posted. And then my camera died. It's not a matter of batteries. It's really DEAD! When I realized that I couldn't take any more photos for my blog, that's when it hit me. This has become a special part of my day...a part of my day that's just Kristen...not mommy...not wife...not teacher. I can just be me. Thanks for reading. Thanks for commenting. Thanks for being friends...having conversations...being my inspiration...letting me be a part of this community.

Gift knitting and a song...but it's not Happy Birthday!

Another "ladybug bag"! This is the first of 3 I need to make this month. Having 5, 4, & 2 means a lot of birthday parties for kids that age. This pink and purple purse is going to a soon to be 3 year old. I think today I'll ask what the other girls favorite colors are. I suspect one of them might say orange.

While the girls are getting felted purses, the boys have been getting marshmallow shooters and this book. With all the sprinkler repairs we've made here, there's never a shortage of PVC pipe. Even 2 is pretty good at launching the marshmallows. We try to aim for the hill in our yard so that we don't have sticky everywhere.

And since you can add a video to blogger now, I thought I'd try. I got this in an email this morning...turn up the volume!

***Okay, trying to add the video caused my computer to wig out. Check out these Youtube videos.

Candles

In the spring, I made this candle for my SFBE pal and the ladies at my MOPS table. These are so easy. A Spega yogurt jar, a few vellum stickers, and a bow. I use a little candle adhesive to hold the clear votive in place. (I looked for a link for the yogurt, and couldn't find one. I buy this at Trader Joes.)

I decided to make a fall version for my FFBE pal. I should have made one for myself, but this time I just made one.

If anyone decides to make one of these...please leave me a comment so I can see what stickers you choose. (Use vellum stickers, because the light shines through them)