Oh my Gosh Socks!

I finished my first pair of handknit socks this week, for ME! I had previously knit two pairs for Dad and a pair for Jameson. Let me tell you how blissful it was! I thought, whats the big fuss until I wore them. These particular socks are knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock which is Merino and Nylon. Of course the yarn is soft and quite loverly to knit, but when you wear them, its like a thin little cloud of warmth surrounding your feet. I've worn wool socks my entire life. From worsted weight handmade socks to smartwools and everything in between, but these socks are unreal! I can't wait to make more pairs, which is why I cast on a new pair today!

The Challenges of Marriage

I guess I'm just feeling introspective this week, another post. I'm having a lot of trouble being happy with my husband... it always seems to be the same story: I feel like he's not contributing enough time & energy the our family & he feels like I don't give him enough physical attention. I've read The Five Love Languages and even though I've talked to Josh about it, he doesn't see or do anything to change the status quo. It really frustrates me that he just expects me to change my ways but doesn't see any room for change on his end. I guess I'm too stubborn to initiate change on my end because I'm sure it won't make a difference on his end.

I'm also feeling pretty unpassionate about my work after going to the EHDI meeting today...hmmm...

Gay Maid

I realize that two posts in one day is a little over the top, but I have to share this news. I have only ever been in one wedding before my own, my bestie cousin Hana. I guess that is a flaw in the "few-friends" lifestyle I lead. No, I've never had to buy a creepy satin gown that I'll never wear again. Most likely this is because I am the girl who tells it like it is and not necessarily the girl you want with you when you turn bridezilla on the world. Not saying I would leave you at the altar if you, say, stuffed used kleenex in my cleavage, because I totally wouldn't/didn't.

So, imagine my surprise today when I got a phone call (we talk on the phone on average once a year in the last 12 years we've known each other) from my friend E. Imagine my immense super-duper surprise when she asked me to be her Gay Maid! First of all kudos to whomever coined that term, it is right up there with Best Women which is what I called my girls. Second of all, joy of all joys A WEDDING! I think my life may just be complete now that I can add Gay Maid to my resume. The story just kept getting better as E explained that the only place they could find the dresses they liked was in NYC. Oh boo hoo!! and Double-Yeah for this girl!

Well folks, it is on! I am going to be the most stunning, tell it like it is, Gay Maid you have seen yet! Diet and exercise will be my companions until the fateful day July 16th when I will stand at the side of my friend and mentor E.

Prodromal Blues

Well, I haven't done well on keeping the resolutions: I bought yarn. Although, I did sell some yarn in order to afford this yarn. NOW I have to stop buying more. I am going to order some things from Knit Picks I think, needles mostly to knit what I have, or maybe not.

I got some lovely Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage which is a delightful single ply Merino. I thought the color-way looked like a burnt orange when I bought it, which was aptly named Amber Trinket; imagine my surprise when I opened the package and its a fabulously rich purple with amazing burnt orange undertones. My plan is to use it double stranded to make an Anthropolgie capelet, I just hope I have enough yarn.

I've also got the sock bug bad. Even though I've only actually finished one sock for moi, I want to BUY BUY BUY sock yarn. I have 6 skeins right now with another on the way and I can't stop looking. I even looked at the Three Irish Girls Sock Yarnista Club, although I really can't justify the price. I'm thinking the three-month club would be a good reward if I get down to 200# although I don't know that that is practical. That would be another 15 pounds on Mom's scale.

I decided to save my money from the spinning wheel and yarn sales to buy a new iPhone. So far, I have about $100 and a $50 Visa gift card so I need another $50 in yarn sales before Feb.3 when Verizon customers can buy them.

I feel totally run down today, guessing I'm getting a cold bug from the Beckel's gotta love the prodromal!

I went skiing last night with Joni to the Timberland Lighted Trail. It was a nice little ski loop, but not really a "work out". I'm planning to go this afternoon after J's naptime. I'd like to do the Beaver Brook ski trail, the one I haven't done yet. Maybe if I loose down to 190# I can reward myself with a new pair of skis?

Thinking 'bout a Resolution...

"... and it sounds like a whisper."

So, I'm thinking about goals for 2011. 2010 has been an interesting year with our share of heartache as well as enjoyment. I don't have any big plans for this year other than a family vacation this summer. Josh will pick the direction of travel as he's not travelled much. I don't care much where we go, just have to get out of dodge and show the world to our young man.

Knitting-wise, which is always where my head is lately I have lots of goals:

- Not buy new yarn until I've knitted up what I have... exceptions: vacation/travel souvenir yarns or I need to make something specific and don't have anything suitable. [As you can imagine, I can make really anything fall under that second one.]

-Knit myself at least three pairs of socks, if not seven... I'd like to have one for each day of the week. I have one on the needles and yarn for two (or three) more.

-Knit a sweater for Jameson. [I have the yarn, pattern, and needles for this.]

- Go to Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival!

I would also like to loose the 20 or so pounds that have snuck up on me this last six months that I've been preoccupied. I plan to try to ski on days I don't work, but not to freak out if i don't. I'm already registered for a 10K Ski race in the end of February so that is incentive to practice. Today I did 3.4 km in 45 minutes. If I decide I'm going to stick to skiing I'll try to buy a boots, poles, ski's combo at the end of the season if they are on sale. When the weather gets better I'll go back to walking and hopefully biking [bike needs some work--Steal back the bike trailer I bought from mom and dad].

I would like to do something to celebrate the wheel of the year... just something small.

And of course: pay off debt. which will probably entail refi the house in June and pay things off on that + new windows and hopefully my sun room.

I think that is enough for a year!

A big storm is supposedly brewing and it just makes me want to hole up and knit! Its so warm and toasty in our house, thanks to the wood heat. I got in a good ski today, about 3.5 km I think. Its the farthest I've been. It really was beautiful out there with the freshly fallen snow twinkling in the sunlight. It made me think of the poem Sara read at Grandma's funeral, "I did not die, I'm the twinkling snow." How true, it really sums up my feeling on death and energy reuse.

I've been really thinking about knitting socks lately... I think I've caught the bug. I have about three sets of sock yarn to be knit and my plan is that they are all three for ME! Josh would like a pair of wool socks, but I have to say I'm not inclined to knit him any when he doesn't take good care of his things. I know I'll be really upset if he looses/wrecks them. I'm hoping that the pairs for me go smoothly because Knit picks has some adorable tonal yarns that would be nice for future pairs!

Unfortunately I have some birthday knitting to finish before I can focus on my socks.

January: Mom, Rozie [Mom's I'm waiting until she gets her hoodwink and then she can chose between matching mitts or a Salute hat]

February: Hana (almost done)

Then I suppose its back to Dad in April, Urgh... not more socks! Why is it that I am excited to knit socks for me, but dreading knitting socks for him!

Then I think I'm free for June, July, August, September.

October: Sally & Sara

Then its back to Christmas and my two boys. Maybe I can manage to get Josh a pair of winter socks done before next Christmas! I suppose I could use that Gwion as it already has Nylon in it.

The seasons are definitely changing and even though our young family doesn't "go back to school" I'm definitely feeling fall in the air. The trees are changing, the furnace is churning, my hands are knitting. I've got a big list of "to do's" for the Holiday season and I'm happily chugging along, not really worried about getting them all done, because they are in order of who will appreciate them the most. Josh and Jameson are done, Mom is almost done minus one graft, John & Zhenya are done, Pearl is OTN. There are so many fun things to knit but these are mostly simple little gifts as I don't think GIFTMAS is the "reason for the season". I've been doing a lot of thinking about the holidays; traditions, beliefs, and the like.

As I don't believe in God, I'd like to honor the passing of time and seasons by celebrating the earth and universal energies. So, my plan is to start celebrating the stops on the Wheel of the Year, starting with Fall Equinox? or maybe Samhain/Halloween. I'd like to start with at least one thing for each of the significant days in the Wheel of the Year.

Halloween we'll carve pumpkins and put candles in them. I think jameson will enjoy the guts and the knife (yes, I have a safety knife). My plan is to keep up this tradition year after year. Winter Solstice I'd like to do a candlelit dinner and maybe make some Ice Luminaries.... well, maybe not the luminaries this year, but we'll see, definitely the candlelit dinner.

We'll do J's bday at the Dells, hopefully with his cousins. He'll be getting some elmo and other gifts from us, but we don't really expect any from anyone else. I might attempt some creativity and do a dirt cake this year... maybe in a sand bucket? or dump truck? I'm not really into the "themed" parties and all that crap so we'll have a few gifts, cake and candles. I might get him a new Birthday Boy tee as his probably won't fit this year. I always want him to feel special on his birthday (and every day) but I don't want him to have unrealistic expectations like his mother does.

We will be celebrating Giftmas this year with the Wisconsin family. I'm sure we'll do the typical Christmas Eve with Mom & Dad at their house and read the "christmas story" and exchange gifts. I'm hoping mine will be all handmade (I've got to get knitting!). Then we'll head to Lakeland Manor for the big family get together. The only person I'll be making something for is Grandma Flora (Yikes, she's not in my queue!). Everyone else we'll just enjoy their company: eat, drink, and be merry!

I'd like to get J a new set of Pajamas for Christmas Eve and then he'll have gifts from Santa when he wakes in the morning (train set from Garage Sale) and a stocking full of little gifts and maybe some treats.

Other traditions I'd like to keep going: Christmas Cut out Cookie making with Mom & Dad a few days before Christmas, a Christmas tree either in or outside the house, (fill in the blank).