The Easter Eggs

 

 

 

The Easter Cupcakes

 

 

 

 

For the basketball team

The Simple Woman's Daybook for Friday, April 3, 2009

Outside my window
It is cool and grey, but beautiful. All the trees are blooming, and the cool weather means that the early blooms have held on while the later ones bloom, too. It is supposed to be 70 degrees by Sunday!

I am thinking
That there is a lot of bumping and bruising that goes on in this job, and I never remember this fact from session to session.

I am thankful for
The fact that we are all doing fine, and have a roof over our heads and jobs to support ourselves. Also, I'm thankful that Aidan has started swimming lessons, and has a good teacher. I think he might actually learn something.

From the kitchen
Dick. As in, nothing. Unless Kevin makes it.

I am wearing
I have worn those Cole Haan heels every single day since the last time I posted a daybook, but today, it seemed like I should give them a break. So, heels, but not as awesome. I need to get my spring clothes out of storage this weekend.

I am creating
Master Knitter swatch #3--the seed stitch! So far, I am not what you'd call an expert seed stitcher.

I am going
To get my toes done, unless I get one of those Jay e-mails that starts out "hey Betsy . . ." In which case, I will be going back to my office.

I am reading
School's Out

I am hoping
That people will LEAVE ME ALONE for the rest of the day, and not heckle me about the provider tax.

I am hearing
Quiet office sounds, including the staff chatting about their weekend plans.

Around the house
We are going to work on the raspberries this weekend, and maybe plant a blueberry bush or two. And pull some weeds. And mulch.

One of my favorite things
I'll get back to you on that one.

A few plans for the rest of the week
If I can just get a real dinner on the table a few times, with us sitting down and eating it together, it'll be a good week.

TKGA Master Knitter Program Level 1

Well, it had to happen. I've fallen prey to the Knitting Guild of America's Master Knitter program. Hopefully, the mental exercise involved in completing the projects will stave off Alzheimer's. If the first swatch is any indication, I may end up in the loony bin, instead. The first swatch is 2.5 inches of k2p2 rib, followed by an INVISIBLE increase of 5 stitches, followed by 4 inches of garter stitch. With the exception of the rib, I screwed up every part of this swatch, and ripped it apart so many times that the yarn is grubby. Too bad, though. I'm not doing it again just to get it clean.

What did I learn on Swatch 1?

The little stitch legs:
At least one thing that illustrates the reason beginning knitters should learn the basics before taking on this program: I learned which way the legs on a stitch go on the needle. Guess how I learned that? Yep--from ripping out and re-threading the needle through the stitches.

The invisible (or not) increase:
I also learned (again) how to do a m1 increase, and that if I place it on the second knit stitch of a k2p2 rib, it becomes mostly invisible. I learned this after discovering that my favorite increase (knitting into the front and back of a stitch) makes little purl bumps that are most definitely not invisible.

The holes:
In attempting the m1 increase the first time, I grasped the truth of the statement that "you have to twist the bar in the middle as you knit into it, or else there will be a hole under the increase". Another thing that is not invisible--a row of little holes under the invisible increases.

The wrong stitch:
And finally (three days and approximately 6 hours of work after beginning) I learned that when the directions say "garter stitch", you should remember that, and not do 3.5 inches of stockinette. If you do, you'll be back to lesson #1--figuring out which way the little stitch legs go on the needle. I feel like the mouse in Laura Numeroff's If You Take A Mouse To School.

The New Hat Gets A Workout

 

 

 

Geez--I guess he likes it. I think it looks especially attractive with the boots . . .

Learning Cables

 

 

Wow--I learned something new! Kathy at Have You Any Wool taught me how to do these, and when I dropped stitches, she even retrieved them for me. Personally, I would've tied it to the place where I dropped it and left the rest of the row to ladder, but she didn't think that was appropriate. Since it was her store, I decided to do it her way. Her way, of course, turned out much better than mine would've.

The Simple Woman's Daybook for March 3

Outside my window
It is still grey, but not raining--at least, not at this minute. The light is getting that brighter, sharper quality that comes with spring.

I am thinking
About trying to keep plans for Aidan on track for the rest of the spring, which is a struggle because my mind keeps getting sucked into the legislative vortex.

I am thankful for
The fact that Kevin and Aidan are both better. I think.

From the kitchen
I made the Nigellan Flatbreads from Nigella Lawson's How To Be A Domestic Goddess cookbook over the weekend, and they are so good for sandwiches. Plus, it's fun to make yeast bread--I love kneading it and feeling it go from sticky and lumpy to smooth and elastic and springy.

I am wearing
My new Cole Haan heels, which are 3 inches high but still the most comfortable things I've worn on my feet all session. Plus, they look terrific. I waited about two years to buy them (meanwhile spending at least their cost on other pairs of shoes), but now that I have them, they are wonderful. I can hike back and forth to, and around, the Capitol all day.

I am creating
The Elizabeth Zimmerman hat, still. I'm through the color pattern, and working on the swirling decreases up to the crown. I discovered last night that when it gets small enough, I'm going to have to go from circular needles to three double pointed needles--this sounds entirely intimidating. Also, note to self--do not, under any circumstances, ever use yucky acrylic yarn again. It creates a miserable experience, and obliviates at least half the reason I like to knit--the feel of the project in my hands.

I am going
Back to the Capitol--where else?

I am reading
Babbitt. George is starting to rebel against his empty life.

I am hoping
To get a chance to go to the State Library for a while this afternoon, to sit and read. But first I have to get all my writing done.

I am hearing
The dull roar produced by 90 legislators in floor session and attendant noise of lobbyists outside the chambers. It is an entirely distinctive sound, and I can always tell at once that they're on the floor when I enter the building and hear it.

Around the house
I'm just trying to keep my head above water.

One of my favorite things
This week, reading. I am itching to read Fire At Eden's Gate for some reason.

A few plans for the rest of the week
If I can just get a real dinner on the table a few times, with us sitting down and eating it together, it'll be a good week.

For other Simple Woman posts, go here.