A package arrived today . . .

I am a big procrastinator. In fact, during college when I first began dating my then-boyfriend/now-husband, one of my professors called us the procrastinator couple.

I can't help it - I just work better on a deadline.

Several deadlines? No probs.

So, this month, I'm already doing NaNoWriMo (over 50,000 words right now but not finished) and participating in a SavvyGirls Podcast Swapetition. The theme was "Winter is coming" and I had a lot of fun planning my package. Then, I decided to knit something for my swap partner. And bake something. And it was all due by November 30.  

A friend asked me to run in a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving with her as well, so - 

Me and Miss Steph, the most cheerful running companion ever. Also, very fast!

that meant making time to train. Toss in some random charity and family Christmas knitting and I'm existing on coffee fumes. 

Today, after I returned from mailing my own swap package, I found a sweet surprise waiting for me.

My own swap partner, PJ from New Hampshire, had sent me a lovely gift.

Everyone lurking to see the big reveal . . .

First off, a card with a scene from Nashua, New Hampshire

All the goods -  my favorite Rowan yarn, candy, tea and fabric and a hand knitted Washington Square hat.

Youngest Daughter thought she'd be the best model for it.

I had to tuck my hair up - maybe it's a sign I should get my hair cut?

I can't wait to tell you what I sent as well. All in all, a very successful Swapetition!

As Tuesday was my birthday, I have a little more yarn to show you.

Dear Mr. Daisy bought me this lovely Cephalapod Yarns Bugga sock weight yarn from Knitty City in New York City. Great choice! I am going to be knitting the Advent Scarf from Lila & Claudine's this year and this will be the perfect yarn.

Another road

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

- The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

Can you sense me slowing down? Coming to a critical juncture?  Deciding what step to take next? 

For me, November is a month that represents just those feelings. Where do I go next? So many activities to chose from . . .

It's NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month, so I'm writing as much as I can. When I can. And let me tell you, I'm not on the downward slope yet.

It's the pre-Christmas rush. Like most knitters, I have some holiday knitting to finish up. Actually, I'd need to start it first.

It's the start of hockey season for Youngest Child - lots of hoiking gear from house to car to rink, etc. This isn't as much fun as you might expect.

I'm doing a Knit-a-long - the 2 Knit Lit Chicks gradient shawl Knit-a-long. Goodness knows why but I'm inching my way to the bind off. I'm thinking this shawl might make a two-fer as a holiday knitting project.

And there is that *&%$#@ blue sweater hanging over everything. I can only knit on it when Oldest Daughter is around to try it on. Those sleeves are killing me!

But there is the bright side of November as well:

Yarn! 

I bought some Roubaix Wool sock yarn from Winterwind Farm in a lovely heather cream color - which I have now dyed purple for Youngest Child's second pair of requested socks. The boy's on a purple kick, what can I say?

Soap!

I've been experimenting with using herbs from my garden in home made glycerin-based soap. So far, I've produced a lovely fresh Lemon Basil soap.

Marmelade!

 I am a big fan of using things up and when I discovered the bag of oranges I'd bought was none too sweet, I used them to make marmalade. Yum! (And please, please set up!)

Quilts!

 I've been hacking along on my Craftsy.com Quilt Block of the Month project and I'm practically done. The last two in fact, are on my cutting table right now. 

Special Dates! 

Yes, November is my Blog-a-versery and my birthday month. Yes, this blog started way back on November 14, 2005. Some things never change - the first problem project profiled?

The first blue sweater for Oldest Daughter!

Happy November!

Snow, snow and snow.

Bah. I like snow as much as anyone else but it did interfere with my plans to mulch the garden this weekend.

Luckily, most everything was picked up because of the "Quidditch fest" we had on Halloween weekend and as long as I can still get to the bird feeders, I'll be fine.

I'm not resisting temptation any more on the Citron front. Yes, my second skein of Sumptuosity arrived this week and I am champing at the bit.

As soon as this blog entry gets finished, I'm casting on and settling down to watch Coraline with Youngest Child. I loved this movie and my book group read it last year but we just haven't sat down together to enjoy it yet.

I thought I might get finished with the Hedgerow Socks as a 21st birthday present for Oldest Daughter

- yes, she is that old! - but the cold that swept through my house cut down on all productivity, knitting included.

Today's Saturday Seven went out last week to my son's school's rummage sale. Bye bye books and tapes!

Robot Day Smiles!

Yep - it was a busy two hours but Birthday Boy loved his Robot Birthday Party. Look at that smile! He is wearing a name tag made from a full-page sticker sheet. The opening activity was coloring name tags - we had their names already printed.



After getting in a quick game of "Feed the Robot" - clothespins in the bottle - we made robots out of art supplies.



Youngest Daughter drew the cute robot for "Pin the part on the Robot" and then the whole gang broke out the moves for some "robot dancing." You haven't laughed until you watched 10 six year olds dance and sing along with "Yellow Submarine!"



Knitting-wise, I'm getting ready to start binding off at the arms. I think I've spotted one faulty cable - perhaps some severe blocking will help?

Happy Birthday Blue Eyes!

Or as she said today, "Quit watching those protesters and pay attention to ME!" Completely understandable: we had a long ride home from school today through all the convention ruckus and I think she was ready for a cupcake.

Friday Films debut today!

I think I am going to make a trip to the Snag Films vault a regular Friday feature. Today's topic: Manga!



And, in that spirit, I wish Dear Husband Mr. Daisy,


誕生日おめでとうアンドリュー!

(Happy Birthday Andrew!)

A Belated Happy Birthday!

Happy Late Birthday, Mom!

I finished this lovely little neck warmer some time ago but, since my mother sometimes reads my blog, I waited until after her birthday to post a picture. She probably could have used it in Minnesota this week - it was chilly!

This came about when I found a neck warmer pattern written in French. I sent it to my mom (a retired French teacher) to see if she could figure out the knitting abbreviations. BUT she thought I wanted the whole pattern translated. Suffice to say, it was eating up so much of her time that she sent me this pattern in its place. So I made it for her! Very fun and easy to carry around.

A New Year for a New Baby!

Happy Birthday Oldest Daughter!

I wished I remembered more about the birth of First Child but it was 18 years ago so I'll be forgiven if I forget a few details. Welcome baby!



Youngest Child insisted that we play "birthday games" so we made our own "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" game. Duped by a four year old - he won!



Saturday's Seven was another matter of cleaning out closets - three pairs of pajamas, a tank top and three pairs of underwear.

Now, back to our birthday evening's entertainment - the complete "Firefly" television series DVDs!

Birthdays, nonsense and socks - Oh, My!

Happy Birthday to my Two-Headed Valentine!

Yep, today is my husband's birthday. After a lovely dinner and strawberry shortcake outside on the patio, he opened his presents - one of which is a bust of Winston Churchill. Andy's a big fan of Winston and decided that he could ride around on his shoulder. The rest of the gifts were great as well (One daughter gave him a "Nunchuks" - a little gun that shoots tiny nuns across the room!) but I know he'll be having some long talks with Winston.



Despite the festivities, I've been alternating work on my Flower Garden Shawl and the Poor Pink Socks. Nothing I do makes them look any better - I can only hope that steaming/blocking the heck out them will make them seem like a decent pair of socks. I did the first 2 1/2 inches with #2 needles and switched to #1 needles for the rest of the sock. It gives them a bit of definition at the lower calf and lots of room at the top. I've read a bit about this technique and I think I'd like to try it on the foot as well - but that will have to be another pair of socks and another story.

So many birthdays . . .

We tend to go very light on birthdays at our house. You get to choose your birthday dinner, everyone produces presents and, sometimes, Dad makes a pie. (I used to make cakes but the pies are mmm, mmm, good!) Sometimes, you get a party.

Today, Middle Daughter had her 16th birthday party at our house and I completely forgot all about the work required. Just six friends over for a trip to the 12-plex for a chick flick and then, back to our house for dinner. I have a swimming workshop tomorrow so we couldn't schedule this for Sunday.

This whole "simple" party stil required cleaning the house and serving food, however, so our morning was very busy. Working out at the Y, cleaning house, and, finally, grocery shopping made things very hectic. I don't know what I was thinking - there was no knitting done today. Bad knitter! No yarn for you!

I did manage to round up the Saturday Seven, however. Youngest child loves color and movement - right now, he's hooked on pretending he's Spiderman - but even he grows out of things. All his clothes are bright and loud, much more so than I would choose for myself. I do, however, recommend the book, "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys" by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson. It was very helpful understanding the difference between Child 1,2,3 and 4 (Da Boy.)



The whole bag is going off to Baby Karl - next sized boy of the Book Group Clan.



" Does whatever a spider can"