Burned dinner while knitting

Yesterday was one of those days where I pictured myself running from the house screaming, hair in my hands. I must've heard the call of the wild "Mo-oooo-oommmm!" about a thousand times! Which is why I knit furiously, which is why dinner burned. It's my first time burning dinner because I was so busy knitting. Wow, what an experience. I kept smelling something, but I just wanted to get to the gusset of the sock (after that, I can go back to autopilot--the heel flap demands I pay attention). It was like *do you smell smoke?*knit across*I think something's burning*decrease row* C was into his game of bounce-on-the-soccer-ball-twirl-around-fall-down, A was knitting this puppet (more on that later) & K was doing homework so we were all preoccupied. Still, I can't believe I didn't smell something sooner. Anyway, when I realized the food was burning, I finished my row (LOL), turned the stove off & sprayed enough Glade neutralizer to choke a horse. DH walkes in and asks, "what's burning?" Me: "burning?? nothing."

Anyway, A is knitting a lion puppet for this school project (I knitted the mouse for her) & the yarn is the worst! Granted, I bought the yarn specifically for this project because it was inexpensive, the perfect texture for the animals we're doing, the right colors, etc. But it's horrible yarn. I don't even think I could muster up the courage to use this again in one of her projects. It's Lion Brand, which I've used before, but not in this polyester. I think I saw one of my neighbor's moms use this yarn to knit a scarf once, and I don't see how she did it. Once I finished the mouse body, I was so over this mess--and it only took me a day to do. I still have to do ears, however; I think I'd rather do Fair Isle with about a million colors.

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Knitting for self

Next year, I'm going to focus more on myself as far as knitting goes. I'm doing a lot this year for others, which is nice, but at the same time, I really want a knitted vest & right now, it just ain't happening. Next year, I anticipate having more free time (I hope) because C will be older & perhaps not so clingy. Then again, you never know. K was good when he was this age, too--then, when he turned 2...let's just say "Terrible Two's" was an understatement. A gross one. But at least I'm used to 4-5 temper tantrums per day! Grocery store, church, park...didn't matter. We had major meltdowns all over town. (I think I'm still banned from some public venues because of K.)

I do plan to knit myself some socks after this current pair is done--and before I move on to even more socks for Christmas. But I don't even have a decent scarf! I've been thinking of getting some Koigu and knitting that chevron pattern scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's beautiful and I think only a variegated yarn like Koigu would do it justice. Plus, I really only need one scarf--I barely wear scarves in the winter anyway, but I think if I made myself a really nice one, I would wear it often.

I would also like a shawl like the one I'm doing for MIL. I love to carry shawls to church in the summer because the air-conditioning is usually so cold. I probably look weird since I'm still rather young & anyone else wearing a shawl has gray hair! But, like so many of you out there, my to-do list is longer than the time I currently have.

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My current work space

Well, this is it, at the kitchen bar. This is where I do most of my writing. There's no internet on this laptop, which is the only way I get writing done--otherwise, I'd be surfing knitting blogs, knitting forums, etc. while I was supposed to be writing!

I used to be one of those people who needed complete silence to concentrate, either on work or knitting...not anymore! There's just no way, not with 3 kids running through the place. The only time it's even close to quiet is after 8:30 p.m. (on school nights). So I've had to adjust and can now count rows while simultaneously singing Wiggles tunes! I think that qualifies me as good.

This is my second stripy sock in progress; I'm getting ready to do the heel flap. I only worked on the lace wrap yesterday and boy, do I want to get these current projects done. I have all that Regia sock yarn I'm itching to use (some of it in lovely spring colors) and that Knit Picks cabled purse I'm dying to start on. Can I just get 5 more hours added to the day--or else, get by on about 3 hours of sleep??

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Lace wrap

This is the lace wrap I'm working on for my MIL. The yarn (Andean Silk) is from Knit Picks, an alpaca/merino/silk blend; this is my first time working with anything alpaca and I love it. I would love to knit a sweater with this stuff one day. Anyway, it's been slow-going on this wrap--I have to squeeze it in among all my other projects. I'm not one of those people who can only work on one thing at a time; I need a little variety or else I'd be bored silly.

When I started this wrap, it was definitely my most ambitious project to date, but after getting into the lace scarf (for my mom), this wrap seems almost easy. The pattern is complex enough to hold my interest, but I also feel I have some "rest" rows. I'm about a third of the way done and I've been working on it for about a month.

I did no knitting yesterday, which killed me, but I was so tired at the end of the day. At the birthday party, I had to work. It was a rock-climbing party at the YMCA and since there were so many kids, we parents (well, some of us) had to help get the kids in and out of the harnesses and hooked up to the cables, etc. And that wasn't easy because those hooks were so big and sometimes hard to maneuveur--which is good for supporting weight, but not so good for knitting hands. I felt like I'd been rock climbing all day after that.

The kids are home from school today for one of those ambiguous non-holiday things the school just does sometimes. I don't remember being off this much from school when I was a kid, do you?? Anyway, it's nice because the older ones keep C entertained and out of my hair for a while; otherwise, he spends the day glued to my hip while I try and do housework, laundry, work, use the bathroom, knit, etc. So this almost feels like an off-day to me.

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I love this quote

"Knitting...[was] what I did; writing was who I was."

This is from Knitting Heaven and Earth by Susan Gordon Lydon, which I'm reading now. I feel like it pertains to my life a lot. She also mentions in the book how there were times when she could've been writing, but she was knitting instead. Hmmm, I can relate.

This is going to be one of those days where I'm going to have to save my knitting for nighttime. I have to take K to a birthday party later and when I get back, I guess I'll have to cook dinner. Sometimes, hubby BBQ's on Sunday, but it's kind of chilly today, so he probably won't. Then we sit around looking at one another like, what are we going to eat? (Like we're stranded on a desert island or something) Now I like to cook & I cook Monday thru Thursday, but everyone knows I don't do dinner on Friday or Saturday. Sunday is a toss-up--sometimes I do, sometimes I just don't feel like it. And since I'll be attending a party today surrounded by 7 year-olds, I'm leaning toward "I'll probably have a headache by the time I get home."

I received a box yesterday from elann. Hubby intercepted it, drat! I hate when packages arrive on Saturdays. Anyway, it had six skeins of Regia sock yarn...more socks, yay! But I had to deal with "the look" from him--you know the one if you have a non-knitting significant other. The one which says "don't you think you have enough yarn?" And I have to either give back Look (A) innocent and clueless, or Look (B) I suggest you look the other way.

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Finished one sock

I finished this up last night & immediately cast on for sock #2. I guess I'm worried that if I don't start the second sock right away, I'll never do it. So far, I haven't had that problem...so far, so good.

Well, C (the baby) was pretty good this morning about letting me sneak in some rows. Don't think for a minute that I can work on anything complicated at all while he's around, though. I wouldn't even try it--that'd be knitterly suicide. Normally, I don't knit around him because like the other men in my household, he's a whiny brat if you're not basking in his glow 24/7 (this goes for the guys from age 1 to 36). But for once, he was busy with his blocks so I sat nearby and worked on the sock some. Then, when his "she's not paying attention to me" radar went off, I stopped. Seriously, it's funny the way he'll be completely absorbed in something, so I'll quietly slide my knitting basket over (all the while holding my breath) and silently slip out my project and the minute I get my hands in position, he looks at me. Like, what in the blue blazes are you doing, lady?

Well, in my other, dead blog, I mentioned how I'm knitting Christmas gifts this year. This sock is half of one, which is why it's not being modeled on my foot. I'm doing mostly socks and scarves--only complicated lacy ones for people who I think will appreciate it, like my mom. Hopefully you can understand why I got started so early on these Christmas gifts. I started back in January, but I bet I'll be knitting up until December 24. Really, I was hoping to be finished by October so that I could sit back, relax, and not even see a mall after November. That holiday shopping crush is too much for me--previously, I would buy as many gifts as I could online. And I don't spend a lot of money! I try and instill in my children that Christmas is not about going broke and getting all you can--we have a rather small family, so I try and get them thoughtful presents that I think they would like. I'm hoping the handknit socks and scarves will go over well; this is my first year I feel I'm a competent enough knitter to do this.

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What this blog is not...

Oh, I meant to tell you that my knitting blog isn't going to be like some other prolific knitting blogs, with FO's coming out my ears. I wish! But I work at home, plus take care of a now 15 month-old at home, plus have 2 other children, a hubby, and more things going on. My perfect knitting day? A sunny but mild day spent on my back patio with a light cover on my legs and my knitting basket next to me. I'd knit 'til my hands cramped up. Oh, and NO ONE ELSE IS HOME. Not that I know where on earth hubby would have the kids since he seems to be scared to take all three--oh, he's done it, but I pushed him out the door and he looked like he was on his way to the gallows.

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Trying Again

All right, my other knitting blog at this site ended up in blog heaven (or at least purgatory, I hope). It just went screwy, so I'm trying this blogging thing again.

I'm still knitting! YAY! You know, one of the knitters at Knitters Review recently said she was taking a break from knitting and I was like, Wow. I knit nearly every single day, even when I'm tired. It just relaxes me so much, especially after dealing with the busyness of having 3 active children (older two with school & activities, youngest one just a massive ball of unstoppable energy) and writing (or trying to) and dealing with married life (yes, singletons, it is work). I need an outlet at the end of the day and since I don't watch a lot of TV and sometimes need a break from reading, I knit.

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