Mother of a Phenom

Have you heard? Elder Celting is a volleyball phenom. Apparently he made quite the impression with Laurie's in-laws at the graduation party this weekend. He's never played before and was holding his own. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as he introduces himself as "Iron Goalie". So why shouldn't he take that same drive and apply to a second sport. As a matter of fact, today he showed me the nice knock on the head he got playing basketball at daycare and diving for the ball.... on concrete. Yep he's that cute jock guy in high school I secretly wanted until they opened their mouths and were then just annoying.

So anyhow, since Laurie was so enamoured with her own purchases (which I remember what SHE bought!) I'm posting about my own. I've been wanting to do the Apres Surf Hoodie and found something to do it in. I knew I wanted to use a cotton/hemp/bamboo/soy yarn. I love my animal fibers but I'm trying to be Fearless and step outside the box. I ended up choosing

Sublime's Soya Cotton DK. The question was that Michelle had two colors I loved: Nettle (81) and Cucumber (89).

I lurved them both. So hard to decide. One so bright and cheery, the other so rich in color and tones I love. How to decide. Laurie said she liked them both equally. Michelle said they both looked good but Nettle really matched my eyes. That was enough for me. I bought almost all of Bloomin' Yarns supply of the Nettle.

Right now I'm secretly stashing this behind 2 boxes of stash until I finish some almost done projects. I just need to get it started before the Celtic Consort picks up on even MORE yarn entering our abode.

On the spinning front, I'm holding off on plying my Requiem until I get a Slow and Extra Slow Whorl for my Matchless. I have a tendency to overply in trying to keep momentum going with the wheel in counterclockwise direction. So I think adjusting to a larger whorl will help.

On the job front, I should be hearing back soon on the face to face. Send good ju-ju.

Happy Solstice!

Today's the Summer Solstice and so we are enjoying the time. May you enjoy yours.

This is for Carly

Carly rightly pointed out at Friday Knit Knite that I was being lax on the updating of my blog. So this is for her. :)

















What's been keeping me away? LOTS. First there was Maryland, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I bought lots but not nearly as much as I could have. There was the EcoSpun Cotton for 99 cents a skein (I got a ton). And the Sari Silk for spinning. Oh and the buffalo for spinning with some bronze Angelina fibers to make it sparkly. Some already sparkly fiber to spin for a hexagon yoke sweater. I found the perfect green to do my Triinu shawl in. Not quite gray not quite green soft soft soft color. 2 skeins... $20.

I even saw this adorable happy child who I could've easily snuck home with the rest of the stash if only her family wouldn't have missed her. She looks much as I did at that age (so I'm told.) I showed some great restraint and bought those items I really had plans for. That includes the big bag to lug it all around in. I even bypassed this temptingly titled fiber for spinning.





















That copper and pewter microfiber ribbon in the swag picture is from Tess and will soon be a work tank.



Speaking of work, my favorite boss resigned a few weeks back and things have gotten more dismal since. I'm told I'm "mean" and a "bully." Okay.... not exactly words that your boss is supposed to use with you. But then again, he looks like a guy who was probably picked on a lot in high school so I have to consider that. I too was pretty low on the food chain in high school but would never expect that. Anywho, being proactive, I prepped my resume and have posted. I've found a .NET programmer is pretty popular around here. Things are looking up. Think good thoughts as I have a face to face on Thursday.


In the meantime, my life was totally taken over by soccer. Yes I'm a soccer mom. Yes I'm aware of how it works. It just got more involved this season. Between travel practice two nights a week, a soccer camp on Friday, flight soccer for both boys on Saturdays, and a travel game on Sunday, I had zero free time. Soccer ended last week and I've been recovering. ;)


















Recovering includes spending a sweltering day at Kennywood enjoying rides and food that is bad for you. I even made sure I got the Celtings on the merry-go-round. Elder Celting rode it for the first time when he was about 3 months old and I've been taking him ever since. For those not from the 'Burgh, Kennywood is TRADITION. (hear Tevye singing in the background?) School picnics abound and that's where we were. Why Younger Celting looks possessed I'm still not sure but I'm chalking it up to sugar.


So I've also been working on my Rivendell socks. They are almost done with just the second toe needing grafting. I found a colorway at Tess's booth in Maryland that just screamed elvish Lord of the Ring sock. After that, I'm working on writing out the Indecisive Socks. I have an idea for it but I'm waiting to share. Oh and I'm also totally distracted by a yummy yarn package received from Miss Julia. Since she doesn't have to ship to me, I received my Vesper Sock Club package a little early. Per her request, I'm not posting pictures yet. I'm totally loving the colors though and I'm amazed at how much work the girl puts into this stuff. She even coordinated the packaging to the yarn! You go, girl!

















Alright, so I'll try to get back to at least once a week around here. If only for Carly's sake. :)

Pretty Spring Tulip

I'm close, so very close. The Tulip has only the Icord edging and ties to do. I should finish tonight. I snapped a shot while there was still some sunshine. I lurve it!!! I can't wait to wear it. I'm so happy with the colors and the shape is simple. I think I might expand into another one but use a little shaping in the waist. And I'm turning the heel on the second Lenore. Woohoo!

Potpourri Anyone?

So Tulip is pretty close to being done. I have to do the front borders and the I-Cord and it's almost done. All my shots tonight looked crappy so sorry no pics. Lenores are also clocking along now that soccer season is in full swing. I'm on the heel flap and will soon be turning.

I'd probably be done with Tulip but I've been dealing with my tree. I managed to get a shot this weekend before the rain of it in full bloom. Kathy, the neighbor across the street, wondered why I was taking pictures of a tree. Try explaining a blog to someone who doesn't own a computer.

So once the rain and wind came through, this is what I had even after an initial sweep on Saturday.

The drive. The flowerbed.

The walkway.

And the yard with Ginger for perspective. For new people, Ginger is an 85lb half Lab, half Rhodesian Ridgeback. I had to sweep today because I couldn't get the van up the drive the petals were so slippery. I ended up with two (yes two!) lawn bags of petals.... just from the drive. I'm not sure I want to tackle anything else. It's almost as bad as the fall when all the leaves fall.

Happy Birthday, Elder Celting!

We join our program already in progress...

Whew! I just finished baking, frosting, sprinkling, and packing 4 dozen (yes 48!) cupcakes to celebrate EC's 10th birthday. There's 2 dozen yellow and 2 dozen chocolate. This is to accommodate both his regular class and his extra help class plus teachers. We should get back about 6 but I'm not holding my breath.

EC turned 10 yesterday and I was so wrapped up in the celebration Saturday that I totally forgot to do the cupcakes for today. So I had to do them tonight. He seemed pretty good about it.

So Saturday, we had the whole clan over to celebrate the double digits. Here's the cake (minus EC's name) and as you can see, we went Tony Hawk this year. The whole day, Elder Celting was trying to niggle out of me what exactly it was that we got him. I kept saying "Socks and underwear." Imagine his surprise when opening a large box to find.... socks. The second box he was trying to keep up a brave face and instead of underwear he got this:

Yep we finally got him the Nintendo DS he's been wanting. This will make my trips to Bloomin' Yarns that much easier as each boy will have a handheld to entertain themselves with while I puruse to my heart's content. I think my mom hit it big as well with these:

Laurie had noted that it seemed as though the whole family had matched their wrapping.

It was pretty wild. All in all, EC received many wonderful gifts especially games and a carrying case for his DS. I think I may have to start playing the game Laurie got him: BrainAge. Helps hone your mental skills. I need that.

So before I get to the knitting, I wanted to comment on my tree. While Laurie and Heather are watching daffodils and the lovely yellow in the yard, I watch my magnolia tree. Every year, it blooms and I hope to get a good picture. I usually end up with it starting to bloom so all the flowers are still buds just starting to poke out and a cold snap hits. This kills the blossoms and turns them all brown and I have crap all over the yard and drive.

As you can see the tree is in full bloom which is wonderful as the tree is huge. I often call it the Charlie Brown tree as it looks like it's going to eat the house. So when I step out my door in the morning it looks like this:

And this is what I see out the front window:

Quite refreshing and a great way to see that spring has sprung.

So on to the knitting. Saturday while the family was over, I was doing a little work on the Toddler Tulip. As it was sitting out, my SIL who had always seemed resistant to the knitterly gifts was admiring it. My MIL asked what it was and I said it was a cardi for my niece (SIL's daughter). At which point the SIL was thrilled. She said she had been admiring the colors and was hoping that it was for her. So maybe she's coming around.

And in all my running about Saturday, I DID manage to pick up my November Muse. So here's where I took the last picture on Sunday.I've since used the last color (Cloud Jungle) and I'm going to do the sleeves before the border. I'm going to see what I have left of November Muse to debate doing the attached Icord in that with the border in Chinatown Apple. We'll see. Hopefully, I'll have it done or almost done by Friday Knit Knite.

It's Here!

Michele called and left word that my November Muse came in today! YAY! That means between morning soccer (which I'm hoping they cancel due to rain) and cleaning the house and afternoon soccer, I MUST go to Bloomin' Yarns to pick it up. I think if I make it, I should have the Tulip finished by next Saturday. Wooohooo!