tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268646522024-03-23T14:20:50.263-04:00mjm knittingadventures in knitting, travelling and roller derbymjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-5216568819778933682014-01-30T22:36:00.000-05:002014-01-30T22:36:09.162-05:00En dash"It isn't the date on either end that counts,<br />
but how they used their dash.<br />
For that dash between the dates,<br />
represents all the time they spent alive on earth,<br />
and only those who loved them know,<br />
what that little line is worth."<br />
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I've been radio silent for a little bit, as my mother died unexpectedly and suddenly a couple weeks ago. The quote above was mentioned in part by my cousin, and I plan to use my dash by being a bit more open minded, loving, and benevolent in the days, weeks and years to come. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-26465996949997549802014-01-15T13:12:00.001-05:002014-01-15T13:12:50.909-05:00Flock MobileThis has been three years in the making, but I finally finished the flock mobile.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNvAF8My0eFalMeu-y3eZQYXWYkdNiEwZCjtL_5TUL7mM98m_XB0BFLHXQ7wP7Os83tqLd3cBiuMdcPr5-FwQxb7PBLAUn63n-CfTsJ_k1axykWB1b0s08FKgguzgg_jQWED9dA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNvAF8My0eFalMeu-y3eZQYXWYkdNiEwZCjtL_5TUL7mM98m_XB0BFLHXQ7wP7Os83tqLd3cBiuMdcPr5-FwQxb7PBLAUn63n-CfTsJ_k1axykWB1b0s08FKgguzgg_jQWED9dA/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I started the project up again this past Sunday when I hunkered down on the sofa albeit with a 19 month old who used me as a climbing apparatus (thanks Frost for G's food duty that day) and proceeded to stuff, weave ends and attach wings to the birds. By 9pm Sunday night all the birds were finished save one which was missing wings. I knitted the last pair of wings tuesday afternoon and proceeded with putting it all together last night and this morning. <br />
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Now onto the sleeves of my featherweight cardigan. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-54779410697791099482014-01-13T10:21:00.004-05:002014-01-13T10:24:29.246-05:00Training for Derby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AkIryCeFF6xZ4WfAh-2o7dOGrMDZVFLxTse36a_yRe-kzUPS9jLMNcLLrce-VNa64jOlWe0dtO2jaGw0nn-DD80iiw1xfqLqBRfHlyJdW2d5YsMqYRgY1f3ZTu2GsgJm-jiFIQ/s1600/rdskates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AkIryCeFF6xZ4WfAh-2o7dOGrMDZVFLxTse36a_yRe-kzUPS9jLMNcLLrce-VNa64jOlWe0dtO2jaGw0nn-DD80iiw1xfqLqBRfHlyJdW2d5YsMqYRgY1f3ZTu2GsgJm-jiFIQ/s320/rdskates.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My 2014 season of roller derby starts in just under two weeks and I'm so excited. We've been in our off season since the beginning of November and in that time I've gone back to bootcamp at a new fantastic fitness centre in the area. The best part is that while I work out, one of the owners watches G for $2. That's right 2 bucks! How can I not work out at that price. Sometimes G is the only child there and other times there can be up to half a dozen kids ranging in age up to 6 years. <br />
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My goal during the off season was to get back into off skates work out so that I'm not just relying on roller skating for my weekly exercise. I will of course continue with bootcamp (1-2x a week) trx (1x a week) and a new class on sunday mornings call the NY challenge with is part core training part bootcamp. <br />
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This month we have a kettle bell finisher challenge optional at the end of each class. The goal is to improve on your own time. I'm happy to report that I've done this three times now. My first time was 2 minutes 35 seconds, then I got 2 minutes 23 seconds and yesterday I got 2 minutes 03 seconds. My next goal is to get under the 2 minute mark and then switch to the heavier kettle bell weights of the blue and yellow combo. My current times are with the pink and blue combo. <br />
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mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-86098778154241047012014-01-12T21:08:00.001-05:002014-01-12T21:08:15.393-05:00Stash Sunday-wonder woman yarn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC2JGrNkuTHEwrxcbqTfJkffengHoBwHya2b1C3IJ34D-7uKOs7fMu5gPu7Y4d6XE1o2fF_WUATlTyfQDxJeFTzIIhnCATkSmAvg7BYVw7yrFmD8e4_qb6_e7L_a09Q2zdmVbEA/s1600/wonderwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC2JGrNkuTHEwrxcbqTfJkffengHoBwHya2b1C3IJ34D-7uKOs7fMu5gPu7Y4d6XE1o2fF_WUATlTyfQDxJeFTzIIhnCATkSmAvg7BYVw7yrFmD8e4_qb6_e7L_a09Q2zdmVbEA/s320/wonderwoman.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This yarn has also been in my stash since 2007. I'm not sure of the actual name of this yarn as it was gifted to me during a swap I participated in and done so because of my love for all things wonder woman. Its sock weight yarn and although I'm unsure of the yardage I plan to one day make arm warmers with said yarn. One day eh?<br />
mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-13464349123337058302014-01-10T12:13:00.004-05:002014-01-10T12:14:34.868-05:00BuggerI missed yesterday. <br />
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It was a busy day hence the lack of posting. <br />
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Will get around to a proper one later today. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-6610371243135003522014-01-08T10:27:00.001-05:002014-01-08T10:27:45.158-05:00WIP Wednesday-Baby BlanketThis is my current work in progress. A baby blanket that I started at the end of 2013. <br />
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The pattern is from the purl bee but I modified it slightly by adding a handful of extra stitches to the cast on, and doubling up the fingering weight yarn I'm using so I could use the size of needle called for. I'm just over halfway done and am hoping to have it finish by this weekend.<br />
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With all my previous posts of old wip's and new projects I want to start, this is currently the only project I'm working on. The monotony of garter stitch is starting to get to me, but I'm happy that my plan of colour shifting in the blanket has kept it interesting enough that I keep working on it.<br />
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The yarn is Louet Gems Baby fingering weight of which I had 5 skeins of blue, 3 skeins of green and 2 skeins of rose. Its been in my stash for a couple of years and I wanted to use it all up and be done with it. As well as to make some room for more yarn coming into the house. A blanket is a great stash buster. My plan is to gift this to a friend who's niece is expecting. There are small amounts of yarn left over from the skeins i've used so far, so perhaps I'll make a matching hat to go with the blanket. We'll see how it goes. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-83038265689178803092014-01-07T20:53:00.000-05:002014-01-07T20:53:48.094-05:00Toddler TuesdayToday was the first day since the holidays that G and I spent the entire day together, as her father is back at work. We didn't leave the house, since it was anywhere from -35 to -41 with the windshield, but that didn't stop us from having a fun day inside. Playing with lego, reading books, eating as much fruit as possible, and cuddling on the couch along with doing a wee bit of tiding up around the house. <br />
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However, more importantly, G is in need of a new sweater and I'm planning on making her a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/raindrops---child">raindrops pullover</a> next. I'll be using this beautiful skein of 75/25 merino silk in the colourway Frosted Petal from Tanis Fibre Arts, that I picked up in the recent Boxing Day Sale. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7DmS9RlSDayDBlxzbVA1bZAImlaXX9bWikjgezmoMmIlVKdHHdbGYJyKBJiA2uq_WfF9dehVmrmM03gsStCCBz0rIWvGzHL_TEEKQ9mz2snhGTcGW2Vs5Odx0M2UJz0cR0kpfQ/s1600/frostedpetal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7DmS9RlSDayDBlxzbVA1bZAImlaXX9bWikjgezmoMmIlVKdHHdbGYJyKBJiA2uq_WfF9dehVmrmM03gsStCCBz0rIWvGzHL_TEEKQ9mz2snhGTcGW2Vs5Odx0M2UJz0cR0kpfQ/s320/frostedpetal.jpg" /></a></div>mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-32831924158459961222014-01-06T17:21:00.000-05:002014-01-06T17:21:07.686-05:00Places to go next. Years ago, when I wrote more prolifically in journals, every now and then I'd write down lists of cities/countries I wanted to go visit, books I wanted to read, movies to see and new places-restaurants, cafes, and stores-around the city to check out. <br />
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Fast forward a bunch of years and I've come to realize that all the cities and countries I wanted to visit in my twenties, I've been able to accomplish in seeing. Thanks in huge part to having a wonderful husband who also shares my love of traveling, and an extended family that lives in Europe. England, Paris, Nice, Italy, San Francisco, Chicago, and Ireland have all been checked off my early twenties list of places to go to and explore. <br />
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Now in my mid thirties, it's high time to make another list and see how long it takes to get there. Of course we have a little one who tags along now, so there will be some minor and major changes to our way of travelling. In the last year we discovered that renting a place that has a kitchen works way more efficiently and is better for all our sanities, than living out of a hotel room for a week. No flights longer than 8 hours. So therefore Australia and New Zealand will be on hold again for another decade minimum. Also night flights are way better for a child that day flights in my opinion. They've already had the day to exhaust themselves and it keeps their routine a bit more on schedule. <br />
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Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and Iceland, as well as going back to the south of France are on my new list of where to go in Europe. As well as Scotland, but not in the winter cause that would be too much <br />
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As for North America, I'd love to take the car cross country to both the west coast and east coast, but I think those are two trips best saved for when G is a wee bit older and will remember it. I'd also like to go to a Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusettes tour one day. As well as go back to California and do all of Big Sur and see L.A. <br />
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I think I'm off to a good start. <br />
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mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-90037003128402622302014-01-05T15:08:00.000-05:002014-01-05T15:08:18.235-05:00Stash SundayI've come up with a couple of new blog posts ideas in an effort to post more. The idea behind these posts is to highlight some yarn that's been kicking around in my stash for ages. I figure this will either shame me into actually using it or else gift it to someone who will actually use it. <br />
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So without further ado I bid you Stash Sundays. <br />
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The yarn above is one skein of Sweet Georgia Handpainted Sock Yarn. I stashed this yarn in ravelry's database back on July 25th, 2007. It's one of my most cherished skeins and has been sitting in my stash for almost 7 years. Why have I held onto it for so long? Well, shortly after this skein was gifted to me, (though I can't remember who from), Sweet Georgia went on hiatus. Not knowing if and when they would reopen I held onto this precious skein. Since Sweet Georgia is now back and dying up a storm, I think it's time to use this beauty up and make room for more yummy yarn. <br />
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The skein above is Zen Yarn Garden Alpaca Lace. I stashed this yarn in ravelry's database back on August 27th, 2007. This skein was an impulse purchase from the Sweet Sheep Shop, an awesome online store that closed it's doors just last week. The colourway is named English Fog and it does remind me of the fog i've seen many times in the English countryside in the past 10 years. <br />
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So what to do with these two yarn? I have no patience these days to knit something lace weight so why not combine the two. The yardage of the Alpaca Lace is double that of the Sock yarn but at least I'd use up half a skein of yarn. I've been trolling the patterns on ravelry for some inspiration but nothing has hit so far. <br />
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Perhaps it's an indication that I should attempt my hand at designing my own pattern. It's a very tempting new skill to accomplish in 2014. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-4575209926680331162014-01-04T13:43:00.001-05:002014-01-04T13:43:11.891-05:00Big Project WIP'sI have a fingering weight sweater and a laceweight cardigan that have been on the needles for over two years now. <br />
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The fingering weight sweater was started in the spring of 2011. It was to be a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plain-and-simple-pullover">Plain and Simple Pullover by Veera Valimaki,</a> but by the time I finished the body I wasn't in love with the collar of the pullover. I put it down in hopes of figuring out what to do with it after a brief rest of a couple weeks which somehow turned into a couple of years. <br />
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I pulled it out of it's project bag last week, to discover that I had indeed started, finished and attached short sleeves to the body but I have no idea what my intentions with the yoke were. So here it now sits. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5mMAcjTKQiGQ5mJdJgZVU3Yepef-6SUGlA3spUdjbgE1d0n9PeR8uLOmUmDlJ2viqPnnLdDuwUQ8PdoV-UVxbf9IkzWaWb1eztoLw6po5PAgxohBFDgQMEuBSaGE6nmBJ-qS3Q/s1600/malabrigo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5mMAcjTKQiGQ5mJdJgZVU3Yepef-6SUGlA3spUdjbgE1d0n9PeR8uLOmUmDlJ2viqPnnLdDuwUQ8PdoV-UVxbf9IkzWaWb1eztoLw6po5PAgxohBFDgQMEuBSaGE6nmBJ-qS3Q/s320/malabrigo.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The yarn is malabrigo sock yarn and I have only three skeins. Two of the skeins were of similar colour but the third is well off. I decided that the lightest skein would be used for the yoke. I couldn't fathom the idea of knitting from two skeins every couple of rows-though i know that that method works quite well. I'm hoping to have this finished and wearable for spring 2014. <br />
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As for the laceweight cardigan I started it toward the end of my pregnancy. It's a <href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/featherweight-cardigan">Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig.</a> I'd planned on knitting it throughout my labour which totally didn't happen when an induction iv was put in my right hand. There was no way I could knit with the iv drip in my hand it was just to weird a feeling. <br />
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The body is finished and I just have sleeves, and the collar to do. I doubled up two skeins of laceweight yarn that was in my stash to 1) use up more yarn and 2) so that i wouldn't feel like the project would take an eternity. Which worked well as I finished the body at the end of August 2012.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm9-vlhQLo9cHVTuHyzrY8otFzOzP6OffnXqH21QXJpVyznA0VISXIzJtBqRyGVqwTNqEKGtYOTigVYXWg85loSUQKGwC2zI7y5KRoDW13LjPwdauVmV05nbhOhRqWtHZfnGD9w/s1600/featherweight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm9-vlhQLo9cHVTuHyzrY8otFzOzP6OffnXqH21QXJpVyznA0VISXIzJtBqRyGVqwTNqEKGtYOTigVYXWg85loSUQKGwC2zI7y5KRoDW13LjPwdauVmV05nbhOhRqWtHZfnGD9w/s320/featherweight.jpg" /></a></div>The yarns used are <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mjmknitting/stash/natural-muga-silk">Indigo Moon Nautral Muga Silk</a> in a lovely shade of green, and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mjmknitting/stash/lace-cake">Mama E's C*EYE*BER Fiber lace cake.</a> Two different yarns that look great on their own but when put together look even better, if i do say so myself. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-65057957242162957222014-01-03T17:44:00.002-05:002014-01-03T17:44:29.067-05:00Flash Back Friday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Z2Ti-IxtNWGBOTVmDie6NAOGtxgzk4ZKBsCp8_zzcYJE-iUvzStL4IDPcwSY60towMUZGY-pyo1q_PlLHluXwNgLJen2FVG1SiG3MvFjTliZKOlz0TeDeh8SXQUBI-mBROSRNw/s1600/cutter1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Z2Ti-IxtNWGBOTVmDie6NAOGtxgzk4ZKBsCp8_zzcYJE-iUvzStL4IDPcwSY60towMUZGY-pyo1q_PlLHluXwNgLJen2FVG1SiG3MvFjTliZKOlz0TeDeh8SXQUBI-mBROSRNw/s320/cutter1.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I'm not entirely sure how old I am in this photo but from the lack of hair sprouting from under my hat and hood I'd say just a bit older than G now, maybe 2 or 3?. I can honestly say I've seen this expression from G in the last month and now know where it comes from. <br />
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I just noticed the mittens and think it would be a great to try and recreate them for G for next fall or winter. My aunt still has the cutter I'm sitting in, in this photo, and we are planning on taking a few shots of G in it before this winter ends and they move to the west coast. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-81011355444960243392014-01-02T11:17:00.000-05:002014-01-02T11:17:35.309-05:00StartitisIt's the start of a new year and with all my holiday knitting finished it's time to start stash diving and making some things for me. Although there are a few works in progress on the needles, we'll save those for another post on another day. <br />
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A favourite pattern that I've been eyeing since I found it on ravelry last summer is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-the-shades-of-truth">All the Shades of Truth.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb11NxLGtzORP324ReIXng0g0XpGOiO8nxMhjZBA_BPcu22uJEZiLx4dATyMhsL-qVpFO-ZNnp4ugsqKkpm5inpDhh8aY-tTREjUdIDZo21XzfijEUMloIlEtjBDQMaTwWoFWZig/s1600/pattern_photo_1_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb11NxLGtzORP324ReIXng0g0XpGOiO8nxMhjZBA_BPcu22uJEZiLx4dATyMhsL-qVpFO-ZNnp4ugsqKkpm5inpDhh8aY-tTREjUdIDZo21XzfijEUMloIlEtjBDQMaTwWoFWZig/s320/pattern_photo_1_medium2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I plan on using four skeins of June Fibre Arts Alice Sock Yarn which I scored from a Newmarket yarn shop going out of business a couple years ago. I don't remember the name of the store, just that the yarn was ordered online and it's all lovely stuff. The colourways are Flight (blue), Royal (purple), Fresh Greens and Golden Peach. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5_UXQgD8BQSlB4LloFBKQQ9JaB831yYI8b0ItkxdfVuIBU_OC2tC5AfzTtjEE8N8rYEsici24R6m4VkW-TJeqA8GaTZGMmtwES5xuNceupJlsEbZBdOIJdUzGCH580QJ6BVRVw/s1600/image_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5_UXQgD8BQSlB4LloFBKQQ9JaB831yYI8b0ItkxdfVuIBU_OC2tC5AfzTtjEE8N8rYEsici24R6m4VkW-TJeqA8GaTZGMmtwES5xuNceupJlsEbZBdOIJdUzGCH580QJ6BVRVw/s320/image_medium2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I have two more skeins of Alice Sock yarn that were purchased at Loop in Islington back in December 2010 but they don't go well with these colours so I decided to use the skein of Swan Island Natural Colours Fingering Merino for the fifth colourway. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ-ehFEojbEe9-8OtDNQ2utreGHXo-h0g9tKtaRAKblT-nbRkLzdEwXSRpfwAbZMQiJOaODLr5C31vXGdaba8S6VkIfJ6VlYHulRWaE8SyAh4RuP4hE9aEqB_UIpR5hpeR818Gw/s1600/image_medium2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ-ehFEojbEe9-8OtDNQ2utreGHXo-h0g9tKtaRAKblT-nbRkLzdEwXSRpfwAbZMQiJOaODLr5C31vXGdaba8S6VkIfJ6VlYHulRWaE8SyAh4RuP4hE9aEqB_UIpR5hpeR818Gw/s320/image_medium2-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm so excited to cast on for this project. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-37171456288680409082014-01-01T11:11:00.000-05:002014-01-01T11:11:11.595-05:00New Year, New Look, New PostThis will be my third attempt in as many years to get back in the habit of blogging. I'm going to aim high this month and challenge myself to post once a day for the month of January. (love the new scheduling feature on blogger) <br />
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So much has happened in past two years but this is the biggest and best thing to have occurred around here. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ij7hER683qejUvL0scMOS0Tb4kvIj0LDjFD7c0pcukirPX01EG0gkEDdhyphenhyphenyYgpQ9GZsFApiAAQLuFhKLzy8F3wkUCRfz_UrxXDBOLiKMXdpxF6zlVlW3CRgsUDhOPgaPxSDUNQ/s1600/G2daysold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ij7hER683qejUvL0scMOS0Tb4kvIj0LDjFD7c0pcukirPX01EG0gkEDdhyphenhyphenyYgpQ9GZsFApiAAQLuFhKLzy8F3wkUCRfz_UrxXDBOLiKMXdpxF6zlVlW3CRgsUDhOPgaPxSDUNQ/s320/G2daysold.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The time has gone by so fast-she's 18 months old already-it's all such a blur. G's an absolute joy to be around. She's stubborn and independent, funny and adorable, caring and loving, she loves music and dancing and sleeps through the night. It's amazing to watch her learn new words, she's like a sponge these days soaking everything up. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2IwBqZciaQ5NKiGYC0AowDDW5Z_pcx-6zAnPT0OlpPAkVkGXxTso7HjumB7JjJbdoHYd1u3xybueEeNYoMPB5T8f7m3agOxlIqwapr0RglCCm-ufOF2TxY3Py5AmISrUc6oTYg/s1600/GDec2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2IwBqZciaQ5NKiGYC0AowDDW5Z_pcx-6zAnPT0OlpPAkVkGXxTso7HjumB7JjJbdoHYd1u3xybueEeNYoMPB5T8f7m3agOxlIqwapr0RglCCm-ufOF2TxY3Py5AmISrUc6oTYg/s320/GDec2013.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm still knitting, though not as prolific as I once was and my obsession for roller derby which hit in November of 2011 is unwavering. I completed my rookie season this past year, and am ready to roll again with my awesome team at the end of January. It's going to be a stellar year. mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-29930774826469372592011-10-27T15:32:00.000-04:002011-10-27T15:32:31.171-04:00Wet and Wild OctoberMan has it been a wet and damp October so far. With only a few days left in the month, I thought i'd just manage to squeeze in one blog post for this month. <br /><br />I am currently working on christmas gifts. I have 8 to do this year and have four and a half completed which considering this is October 27th and there is still two months til the big day, I hoping this year I won't be as panicked as previous years. <br /><br />For Thanksgiving this year, as we have done the past few years, we've packed up the car and headed to visit family just west of Toronto. It's always so peaceful and relaxing and is Polly-Jean's second home. <br /><br />For two days, I caught some much needed vitamin D and read a book, while Frost did pretty much the same and stinker got to play on just under an acre of land. There is so much to do and see there is never a chance to get bored. <br /><br />Here are just a few shots of Polly-Jean frolicking around <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUksosT4oSCAyAustgeK8kBkLJgAAWaoIN1uwRMlM0KJdaoP2i64yfb2MidCKYBwqJEHy_JZVHCJdyyoS5uUwXH9MsSrDgFotQ6vvVExgTVZ2YrxRMjySr6dMf2QB-RZTAxBZHg/s1600/polly-jeanwateroct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUksosT4oSCAyAustgeK8kBkLJgAAWaoIN1uwRMlM0KJdaoP2i64yfb2MidCKYBwqJEHy_JZVHCJdyyoS5uUwXH9MsSrDgFotQ6vvVExgTVZ2YrxRMjySr6dMf2QB-RZTAxBZHg/s320/polly-jeanwateroct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668251132943599522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6MxyyU5ntVNebdfJ5369iBf7Un0rZn_DLGF6avOzAssLx5r7OA-kVVSDCrP79hxvJ_bgaYINhTSClRT39XwZNFQb_gLQqMw7osDju1wqpfzevyChx0kvRtBzul5iYw8bC_xv3Q/s1600/polly-jeanjumpoct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6MxyyU5ntVNebdfJ5369iBf7Un0rZn_DLGF6avOzAssLx5r7OA-kVVSDCrP79hxvJ_bgaYINhTSClRT39XwZNFQb_gLQqMw7osDju1wqpfzevyChx0kvRtBzul5iYw8bC_xv3Q/s320/polly-jeanjumpoct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668251133702723522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Je3WgwPt7dAmSL2EmWR8sO_czHrjMgj2ksQThSapQdchRWEwcnNt6RkSAke4JQmEGjWoPTx5GQ2CBNDKugfaDTXkUlA4vEpGvwystCkx5DVY0rJ-gc3sWi1kjygllTqQsvEJRA/s1600/polly-jeanswimmingoct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Je3WgwPt7dAmSL2EmWR8sO_czHrjMgj2ksQThSapQdchRWEwcnNt6RkSAke4JQmEGjWoPTx5GQ2CBNDKugfaDTXkUlA4vEpGvwystCkx5DVY0rJ-gc3sWi1kjygllTqQsvEJRA/s320/polly-jeanswimmingoct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668251135516125570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QaQN8w9wtaxvbjaSPqB_PSWp8EkrEW5WyuZLh5lne2UUd0yTcifS1CeiiUUXV_WnmiUhaKr3q-yZSeupZqZwWQG5y0XnBOpjPJeGY7kRDDBOmJ_1mfHgZgyzLrbPuZkovtKd9A/s1600/polly-jeanoct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QaQN8w9wtaxvbjaSPqB_PSWp8EkrEW5WyuZLh5lne2UUd0yTcifS1CeiiUUXV_WnmiUhaKr3q-yZSeupZqZwWQG5y0XnBOpjPJeGY7kRDDBOmJ_1mfHgZgyzLrbPuZkovtKd9A/s320/polly-jeanoct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668251140849064658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPMSUVpcPF1EKAORLE1J6i7O40zB0C4Tp755Lhhi6xXRpSfmDfLTOE0MTMnV8_YIfwsH0U8e_lvTfCuWjs5DQUMX-ROf3bfbOo3iPwwQlBRM1l8pdeUkr3h9eyFproMKkWdgHMA/s1600/pjring1oct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPMSUVpcPF1EKAORLE1J6i7O40zB0C4Tp755Lhhi6xXRpSfmDfLTOE0MTMnV8_YIfwsH0U8e_lvTfCuWjs5DQUMX-ROf3bfbOo3iPwwQlBRM1l8pdeUkr3h9eyFproMKkWdgHMA/s320/pjring1oct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668254562463905058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sPwSGS8loNKU8jJ3M2bvAIhVVfHhgzNtnoQsvaZMqj1nAoIWw71EWagdUGW1y5g3z8TzJJ75A-F8I31pgYEH-gL-iByG46lBek3XknodiMVdS7lWAOg9skNT9raVuWIdx6pK5A/s1600/pjring2oct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sPwSGS8loNKU8jJ3M2bvAIhVVfHhgzNtnoQsvaZMqj1nAoIWw71EWagdUGW1y5g3z8TzJJ75A-F8I31pgYEH-gL-iByG46lBek3XknodiMVdS7lWAOg9skNT9raVuWIdx6pK5A/s320/pjring2oct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668254565368296898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYCaruZi7SAX0BUIs0GYZCxoPUdPA9E0vFdOLiD0KfhiqlkPUjCWFtgM6ckNoab2rdGQ7xiadIgs_SKaswf-oJJRVdn_S3vZi7jgXI_Z3FPj-agvf8CnZGhC69X-zV6u3AWvyvw/s1600/pjring3oct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYCaruZi7SAX0BUIs0GYZCxoPUdPA9E0vFdOLiD0KfhiqlkPUjCWFtgM6ckNoab2rdGQ7xiadIgs_SKaswf-oJJRVdn_S3vZi7jgXI_Z3FPj-agvf8CnZGhC69X-zV6u3AWvyvw/s320/pjring3oct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668254561581911666" /></a><br /><br />And for us, we get a great golden hour shot of the beautiful country side that surrounds the property<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP_bTxaKfctZKoNBiEfTHNuhshQpQQNZVlNgO8eq2Fy86oq6kK3OgcDROTP6HNZcnxGQWEWIrsQJ3ZWKCMuiUOzEiQuHVKvgH-Lu4psUqXD68cvmMU4OCqOlhCs6bu587CnRkvA/s1600/sunsetoct2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP_bTxaKfctZKoNBiEfTHNuhshQpQQNZVlNgO8eq2Fy86oq6kK3OgcDROTP6HNZcnxGQWEWIrsQJ3ZWKCMuiUOzEiQuHVKvgH-Lu4psUqXD68cvmMU4OCqOlhCs6bu587CnRkvA/s320/sunsetoct2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668251146764146354" /></a><br /><br />On one small side note, today would have been my grandfather's 91st birthday, so happy birthday Opa, we miss you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqhacY9hTejRyZVRKZtexNnjaYFPFj5st4Au9zoiJ94ywKvcZmjJiVjZJH2_UxIteuAIkLfp4U4avJ7gtRWyHhVD3tQQ1Jy9QJgfWreAyKyRax1v44wEElM_wC9lyBjwXnbKv4A/s1600/19yearsold.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqhacY9hTejRyZVRKZtexNnjaYFPFj5st4Au9zoiJ94ywKvcZmjJiVjZJH2_UxIteuAIkLfp4U4avJ7gtRWyHhVD3tQQ1Jy9QJgfWreAyKyRax1v44wEElM_wC9lyBjwXnbKv4A/s320/19yearsold.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668256792863191154" /></a>mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-66750019724583362492011-09-10T11:25:00.000-04:002011-09-10T11:25:56.879-04:00A year and two days later....I won't bore you with all the details of the last year. Let's just say it's been a great one. <br /><br />I travelled with Frost to New York City for the very first time in October of 2010 as well as to Italy just after Christmas for our honeymoon (only two and a half years after the wedding). Polly Jean turned two while we were away on our Middle America road trip through Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. The cats are great although Lenix has put on a few pounds from being banished to the 2nd floor of the house for fear Polly-Jean will eat him. Tuesday not so much but they are all starting to come around to each other finally. <br /><br />As for knitting, it comes and goes in spurts and waves but there is always a thing or two on the needles. I do believe it's declined heavily because of my newest obsession. ROLLER DERBY!!!! I failed graciously on my exam in July with ToRD but am starting up again this Wednesday with the GTA Rollergirls as ToRD (toronto roller derby) isn't doing another intake of Fresh Meat until next year. I am thrilled however that Miko, Rosa, Lise and Michelle all passed minimums and are now on ToRD's farm team the D'VAS. <br /><br />Since February, with the beginning of roller derby, I now go to exercise class three mornings a week and have been using my bike more this summer than the last two previous summers combined. I can't believe how fast cycling gets me everywhere in the city, It's astounding and I love it.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-69562752020196185352010-09-08T16:44:00.000-04:002010-09-08T16:44:16.123-04:00Polly-JeanJust some photos to share with you, (for those who may not have seem them on fb), of Polly Jean who turned a year old today. <br /><br />These would be the out takes from our quick photo session this morning before I had to head off to work. Polly Jean was way more interested in chewing on a stick and jumping up and down at me then being cooperative. <br /><br />What can I say, she's still a puppy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLPKNWgjWerJviLTzDDjw4LGRbQjq9fo5VTrzgzVy-k0inrYE7CQvaMSIzhQiqQWsQjRskVEOS05b2wCV82TyvA9rOTtXBsTBKen012Q_KURIClhRSizs4SbRJjdIBHyMi91VuQ/s1600/1stbdayouttakes1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLPKNWgjWerJviLTzDDjw4LGRbQjq9fo5VTrzgzVy-k0inrYE7CQvaMSIzhQiqQWsQjRskVEOS05b2wCV82TyvA9rOTtXBsTBKen012Q_KURIClhRSizs4SbRJjdIBHyMi91VuQ/s320/1stbdayouttakes1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514643925597667682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyVoBYGddF4I31c0jyqOU2szODKqL4PqZtcjQMJOGB_ihW3-HuUZEyXQQ_e_cvp0moNtHXaSm_MCmxlFSM2v3G_gIPzOe6nHLLQs5Eym0TNymXNnTOOnOoX1iuxhlTy2svjA7A/s1600/1stbdayouttakes2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyVoBYGddF4I31c0jyqOU2szODKqL4PqZtcjQMJOGB_ihW3-HuUZEyXQQ_e_cvp0moNtHXaSm_MCmxlFSM2v3G_gIPzOe6nHLLQs5Eym0TNymXNnTOOnOoX1iuxhlTy2svjA7A/s320/1stbdayouttakes2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514643933144914946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOE90orc29SHek8nOR4MENybE6wquB71nwTvjlCxtcZJTbHOts53QdOMT4cVP16V6URDDZJT0GKSvRlvNNQtf8tTFIVBo9y5f2uIBes3ktZtp3zhmKdfH0IfpvVeWuH0eshh31A/s1600/1stbdayouttakes3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOE90orc29SHek8nOR4MENybE6wquB71nwTvjlCxtcZJTbHOts53QdOMT4cVP16V6URDDZJT0GKSvRlvNNQtf8tTFIVBo9y5f2uIBes3ktZtp3zhmKdfH0IfpvVeWuH0eshh31A/s320/1stbdayouttakes3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514643951294504482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVmIDHp8mOxXxqeFsrtDuR77Vqv56CKPwkXm0IoVeWm-EaeHHDybNrVi5A1UPABVaYEtc16mZFjUS7MR_oN75o3OWXn-V4E7VDd5QMzJ_ysgYDJWI_QnKEwhwfIbvjbqvtYZfEw/s1600/1stbdayouttakes4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVmIDHp8mOxXxqeFsrtDuR77Vqv56CKPwkXm0IoVeWm-EaeHHDybNrVi5A1UPABVaYEtc16mZFjUS7MR_oN75o3OWXn-V4E7VDd5QMzJ_ysgYDJWI_QnKEwhwfIbvjbqvtYZfEw/s320/1stbdayouttakes4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514643966707487634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW2EWtUp1be8cKxoAcyVaT69qNyRfXGbbxwm77LOt-6903e95dJs1VjgKuhVOt1dXetDoZE4hYYPeZd7Vswkzjb4BXTpQNYOnPWfeW0mfdE6umPenXUt17YsfkvIAWGTVkxLraw/s1600/1stbdayouttakes5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW2EWtUp1be8cKxoAcyVaT69qNyRfXGbbxwm77LOt-6903e95dJs1VjgKuhVOt1dXetDoZE4hYYPeZd7Vswkzjb4BXTpQNYOnPWfeW0mfdE6umPenXUt17YsfkvIAWGTVkxLraw/s320/1stbdayouttakes5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514643986744928914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjoUGsXfrqphczjSRDhNOxoUge0LDfYSoe2y81aaycXM0lf51G9ryeBOVBb478muoDaoPPjrlr809qeJzhWu1SBKc-RjfvjCdU0BVs5HI0R3PpvmudayZhe2ufeyZUXn2Bsh60Q/s1600/1stbdayouttakes6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjoUGsXfrqphczjSRDhNOxoUge0LDfYSoe2y81aaycXM0lf51G9ryeBOVBb478muoDaoPPjrlr809qeJzhWu1SBKc-RjfvjCdU0BVs5HI0R3PpvmudayZhe2ufeyZUXn2Bsh60Q/s320/1stbdayouttakes6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514644631703876674" /></a><br /><br />Finally a keeper:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSWWOIt-oqDw9kkPseTh7_sZ_EWdLYNSFefW16-a0pv0vlsP96paB51aEGeIHdKCw6gBWZ2lkMhX-kfa3omFkUngNccKTwSqBNEDXDnmwnh8PkAa-RcicTfu7PrRPe6qhU2C5Hw/s1600/pollyjeanbday2010xsmall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSWWOIt-oqDw9kkPseTh7_sZ_EWdLYNSFefW16-a0pv0vlsP96paB51aEGeIHdKCw6gBWZ2lkMhX-kfa3omFkUngNccKTwSqBNEDXDnmwnh8PkAa-RcicTfu7PrRPe6qhU2C5Hw/s320/pollyjeanbday2010xsmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514644641662008818" /></a>mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-66528178264102428332010-07-19T00:06:00.000-04:002010-07-19T00:06:56.741-04:00Back in the Saddle AgainLong long time no post. I am happy to report that all is well here at the Mountalan abode. It feels as if Polly-Jean has been around forever even though she is only 10 months old. The cats act like grumpy old men around her, which seeing as they are 8 years old I guess that's okay. <br /><br />I have been plugging away at knitting here and there when the time suits me. Some days my mojo is on and some weeks it's off. The weather was really hot a couple weeks back and i didn't knit one stitch for almost 5 days. Instead I sat around and read The Gargoyle between walks to the park and turning the ac on for an hour if only to drop the heat in the house by a degree. I'll attempt to have photos in the next post. Perhaps a few of the stinker (aka Polly Jean) all grown up, and some of my knitting projects even if they aren't blocked. I finished a long cowl and a sinful ribbed scarf back in january, colonnade in april, wisp in june and tudor grace in july. I am currently working on a shawl but can't give away any more details as it's a gift for someone later on in the year. I am thinking of doing a shawl or two for me next. I really like spring leaves and i have three skeins of blue malabrigo sock yarn called impressionist sky that I think will go well together. <br /><br />I hauled out all my yarn on friday and reorganized it into yarn weights. A half tote has all my lace and dk/sport weight yarn. One bin has all my aran/worsted weight yarn and some stuff that i'm not too keen on, that i won't be touching til sometime in the fall. The final bin was chock full of sock yarn. Now the two large bins where overflowing a bit so i had to throw the four skeins of twinkle that i own and a half dozen skeins of sock yarn into a forth bin so that i could close them but all and all not so bad. Although I do have to say I have quite a lot more sock yarn than i remember having, and I know it doesn't count in the grand scheme of things in the stash world, but it does to me. <br /><br />Oh and I may have taken just one photo of all that yarn in bins just to remind myself of how much yarn i really do have. That photo i'll definitely be including in my next post. <br /><br />Ciao for now!mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-71090219603883141212009-10-25T00:59:00.005-04:002009-11-22T13:24:01.491-05:00Sunday morning resolution<span style="font-style:italic;">Regarding talking off/taking flight<br /><br />1. Neither Frost or myself, can get through this next move alone<br />1a. This is a big step for both of us, in the next chapter in our lives. <br /><br />2. We can either do it together, alone or by ourselves.<br />2b. It's best when we work together, as their is no team in I<br /><br />3. We both have our own set of resources to call upon on when we need too.<br />3b. Clearly we both like being in the lead and supportive roles. <br /><br />4. For both our sanity for the week ahead we need to be apart.<br />4b. But know that the other is near, and just a phone call away. <br /><br />5. Technology has come along way since our parents and grandparents moved from house to house.<br />5b. With all the technology available to us in 2009, why not use it. <br /><br />6. Frost seems to have a cast of characters in play.<br />6b. But to play nice he needs to send one over my way, as I just called red light.<br /><br />7. Red light will be back on until Frost sends me a green light message,<br />7b. This green light message must not find it's way into my inbox until 9am on monday morning. <br /><br />8. We are having a proper pre production meeting on Sunday the 25th of October at 6pm to go over the particulars of the week days ahead. <br />8b. You will get a message by 4pm today to find out where we are meeting. <br />8c. Should you not acknowlege this message by within twelves hours of this message being sent to you. I will null and void this transaction. <br /><br />9. Should Frost meet me at my preferred meeting spot today at 6pm, to sign this contract he can then of course<br />9a. But we need to know <br />9b. We both my require your help at any time this week.<br />9c. If we don't call you to ask for help, please call us. <br />9d. Being on stand by is never a bad thing. <br /></span><br />This was written at 12:59 am on the morning of October 25th, 2009. Later that day I was admitted to clark-the emergency ward of camh (centre of addiction and mental health) I was diagnosed with having had a manic episode. I was given enough meds at the time to knock me out and make me sleep for the first few days of my stay. <br /><br />Unfortunately when I was able to get out of my drug induced haze, I wasn't allowed to leave maui-the mood and anxiety program-inpatient program. I had not played by their rules. I had bitten one of my nighttime pills in half and hide it in my bra. I was having heart palpitations and then passing out from the amount of drugs they had me on at night. I didn't know what was happening, so did the only thing i knew to do. This resulted in me missing the first halloween in our new house. I was over the fact that I had missed the move, but when the realization hit me that I was going to miss our first halloween at the new house I ranted and raged like a lunatic. No one who came to see me was good enough, everyone was against me and I needed to get out. Well that how I saw it anyways. I waited and waited for anyone to come get me that first weekend, but nobody came. And then when they did come finally after the weekend was over I ranted and raged at the entire lot who'd come to visit. <br /><br />It wasn't until the monday morning of the start of the second week that i learned if i was to get out, i would have to ship up and play by the rules of maui. So i went to group sessions, I talked with other patients. I was the newbie on the floor, the first time patient, and I was going to find out everything i could to get myself out. Of course it helped a lot that I had been doing this since day one. I'd notice a new person on the floor and ask them who they were and wanted to see their badge. I even offered to take new photos if they didn't like their, that how much i was in a manic state that first week. Still trying to be the hero. <br /><br />I was always the happy one, never the sad one. That is my role and I have played it well my entire life. I stayed at maui for 3 1/2 weeks. The last half week I was there, I did my own thing and stayed away from any new patient that came onto the ward. I had played my part, it was time to exit the stage. Don't get me wrong, this illness is far from over. I will be on meds for the next 12-18 months. My inner hope is that it will be less but only time will tell. <br /><br />I have a new social worker and physiatrist now and will be going back 2-3 times a week to the outpatient early intervention centre unit. I decided last monday that I was ready to come home, to the house here on Mountalan. I could have gone into another program on site at camh, but decided that I have a huge support system here in the community in which I live that i didn't need to, nor want to, continue on with the inpatient program. I do know however that it's always there in the background should i need it. <br /><br />I am a bit hesitant to post this entry as excessive writing is what got me into this pickle to begin with, but I have come to learn that I have always used the written word to get me through the rough times. It's been my mental escape since i was a teen. In my closet here in this new room, my own office/craft room from which i write, is a box full of journals from the time i entered high school until now. The only difference is that when I started this blog a few years back my writing stopped. It came back when Frost went away for 10 days to LA. The unfortunate part is that it was a flood of thoughts and insight into the world around me that came with it because i wasn't taking care of myself. I was depriving myself of sleep as I was helping out friends for the Creativ Festival. I was taking care of everyone else, except for the one person that mattered most-ME. <br /><br /> I acknowledge the fact that I don't ask for help most of the time. I am the sort of person who does what needs to be done no matter how long it takes or how much energy i give. I have done that since I was a child. What have i learned most these last four weeks, is that everyone needs help. I am just starting to learn how to ask for it. I am thankful for marrying Frost last year. This wednesday will be our 6th year anniversary of meeting on the set of a commercial. He has come so far so fast in his field. From a jaded production assistant to a very highly respected and sought after video playback/data management guy. <br /><br />I am thankful for the support system we have surrounded ourselves with. Friends and family members know who they are but it's also those of you who read this blog that are supportive as well. I have no idea how many people read this blog, but it doesn't matter. Telling you what has happened, is what needs to be done. The real reason why I haven't posted in so long. You don't have to know all the sorted affairs and details but if you want to hear them I will gladly tell you over a pot of tea. I am just getting back into the swing of things here. My old physiatrist, asked Frost if I was back to normal, to my old self. Frost of course said yes, and that was what got me discharged, but the fact of the matter is, is that I will never go back to that normal. There is a new normal about. The entire four weeks changed me, and it changed me for the better. Would I wish these last four weeks on anybody. Nope, not for a moment, but if should happen again we know what signs to look out for now and I would be the first to ask you to take me back to camh.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-50520620140292350932009-10-09T19:16:00.000-04:002009-10-09T19:17:10.021-04:00Baby SetThis is the baby set, I just finished for Baby Sophia, who was born at the beginning of September. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGOzp7MsAip1Ns3fUlW_2nlWGH78gyYKhnJRy-SbNrrx5_W7DV_AGrHlcR6YIqed4o0D-0OxN-yaepRrC1YWcxCBaL-_7rmAcxHGHIn12z-7yd7T5Li-dvNmmfjJ3FPJzFEI0tA/s1600-h/set+for+sophia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGOzp7MsAip1Ns3fUlW_2nlWGH78gyYKhnJRy-SbNrrx5_W7DV_AGrHlcR6YIqed4o0D-0OxN-yaepRrC1YWcxCBaL-_7rmAcxHGHIn12z-7yd7T5Li-dvNmmfjJ3FPJzFEI0tA/s320/set+for+sophia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390738152517228226" /></a><br /><br />I finished the sweater back in July when we found out a baby was on it's way. The parents weren't divulging the sex of the child, so I waited until the baby was born before adding the buttons. I'd also purchased some navy mission falls wool to make a hat and booties to complete the set, but when the baby was born and it was a girl, I just couldn't do it. The navy looked too masculine. I decided that purple went well with the green and picked up some more yarn. The buttons are from The Purple Purl, as is all the yarn, and they're such cool buttons as the tree is actually a purple tree, the buttons have not been dyed at all. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqUbiR38yVyuu2LHDGjEZCJdV4KBand0l11L0LQt8L8OlTgzINGWiaWrkCC7rYxqIj8-93XZCvxIfcZRsGnnZaTmUz9zMge73Fzz6phJVhgm_R_AowlbhOxyJyff5F3-oWEFYDA/s1600-h/buttons+for+sweater.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqUbiR38yVyuu2LHDGjEZCJdV4KBand0l11L0LQt8L8OlTgzINGWiaWrkCC7rYxqIj8-93XZCvxIfcZRsGnnZaTmUz9zMge73Fzz6phJVhgm_R_AowlbhOxyJyff5F3-oWEFYDA/s320/buttons+for+sweater.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390738644901957330" /></a><br /><br />The hat was finished in about 4 days. I increased the number of cables to twelve, since the original pattern size was for a newborn and I wanted the hat to last a bit longer as the baby is already a month old. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KiWvC2ieOZ3KtXNeqka4U4qYrGCoxcMKY50n3LhphAA1Io0E4NauqVgRGAcZSirvSQOtVDZXy5YX8NhjPCnhwETU0Rx5vANWYBRtl1oM6OMtZYUbuiYwE13qtRK8mwi8TEaaqA/s1600-h/purple+hat1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KiWvC2ieOZ3KtXNeqka4U4qYrGCoxcMKY50n3LhphAA1Io0E4NauqVgRGAcZSirvSQOtVDZXy5YX8NhjPCnhwETU0Rx5vANWYBRtl1oM6OMtZYUbuiYwE13qtRK8mwi8TEaaqA/s320/purple+hat1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390741401159210114" /></a><br /><br />The booties took a bit longer. I started them before the hat, but put them aside as the seams were being finicky. In the end they worked, but I had to re-do them a few times each. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkZfzVgvNvI3YwR8GuKfa_4ZqMR9ooAKRnsYdRRuOb2K2zC6SdqF4q1SW7hxqS-Zf1mKFbaewFCSRufQorLD5nyylo_cqzzx4EDVkwmbPPbvyjRkquAqiSbgC3C73uFY5E4pEA/s1600-h/purple+booties1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkZfzVgvNvI3YwR8GuKfa_4ZqMR9ooAKRnsYdRRuOb2K2zC6SdqF4q1SW7hxqS-Zf1mKFbaewFCSRufQorLD5nyylo_cqzzx4EDVkwmbPPbvyjRkquAqiSbgC3C73uFY5E4pEA/s320/purple+booties1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390741940509447042" /></a>mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-10610224646293218472009-10-05T00:54:00.000-04:002009-10-05T00:54:06.752-04:003 weeks + 2 days old<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1AEvLqGcJJUrK18xoWxwrworKLtfD8k_xcgjT849LcGiYUGH3Zac33-zDaiozpz3z92XVJ1ix0eHRxvXB9bPaDoyR1Mei3Ys0xihhoLTbfsDCoLErrQZyhyGC2cE6WvT_ZpaQQ/s1600-h/PollyJean3wks2daysLR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1AEvLqGcJJUrK18xoWxwrworKLtfD8k_xcgjT849LcGiYUGH3Zac33-zDaiozpz3z92XVJ1ix0eHRxvXB9bPaDoyR1Mei3Ys0xihhoLTbfsDCoLErrQZyhyGC2cE6WvT_ZpaQQ/s320/PollyJean3wks2daysLR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388973539930119570" /></a><br /><br />Here's some current photos of Little PollyJean. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vcGOuTNxo2JEilg__0cpd2_SUFSJnZQNA7TkBjzdpLe9nUMB6N00PXho2tgiJyLe7O4Fl-_tWHvhyphenhyphentUlPcRO1aEGvPBr-2B3l0hKUY4_a9K0fMCUbweE99HrXbdkrZNNA_eFlw/s1600-h/PollyJeanLR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vcGOuTNxo2JEilg__0cpd2_SUFSJnZQNA7TkBjzdpLe9nUMB6N00PXho2tgiJyLe7O4Fl-_tWHvhyphenhyphentUlPcRO1aEGvPBr-2B3l0hKUY4_a9K0fMCUbweE99HrXbdkrZNNA_eFlw/s320/PollyJeanLR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388973527791676386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBrvxq7Ud1Jwx91mE8k0wveuHaAOL4EEkHel-qTgqNA9lH7ZurgeyFCiCsjDK0FLYfOvUm6AiNhMc_jTWfFrrRIMHbFq0N-HSh1-1cMhX8ltRSRAy8nhZzBEoIl5JsaC3WtZLnQ/s1600-h/PollyJean&MeLR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBrvxq7Ud1Jwx91mE8k0wveuHaAOL4EEkHel-qTgqNA9lH7ZurgeyFCiCsjDK0FLYfOvUm6AiNhMc_jTWfFrrRIMHbFq0N-HSh1-1cMhX8ltRSRAy8nhZzBEoIl5JsaC3WtZLnQ/s320/PollyJean&MeLR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388973525354795026" /></a><br /><br />We visited PollyJean last Thursday, along with her two remaining siblings (the two black and white puppies from an earlier post didn't make it past a couple weeks old) along with her mom and aunt (the proud mother of 5 week old puppies) and her grandmother at the breeders home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ACJoyCO2hP8n5TK2fl-vGK3ksxwINADr0uZsu1QuoWDpEj_O4D9hzAX2Fwktc6VJV2NBFbqHDUa0RIaSZlnrFxxWTGdL0cHzDHJd_Jn02nS_rupe3Zx1_gFJvN5zleUgoRHGjQ/s1600-h/PollyJean&SibsLR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ACJoyCO2hP8n5TK2fl-vGK3ksxwINADr0uZsu1QuoWDpEj_O4D9hzAX2Fwktc6VJV2NBFbqHDUa0RIaSZlnrFxxWTGdL0cHzDHJd_Jn02nS_rupe3Zx1_gFJvN5zleUgoRHGjQ/s320/PollyJean&SibsLR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388973516276666114" /></a><br /><br />Above, from left to right are PollyJean, her brother, and her sister. Her sister is going to a home in Calgary, and her brother has yet to be spoken for. <br /><br />*Although I'd love to take credit for all these photos, the only one in this post that's actually mine is the last one. The first and third images were taken by my father-in-law. The second photo was taken by Frost.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-29066792328961928612009-09-29T11:03:00.001-04:002009-09-29T11:04:54.888-04:00My new toyA very brief post, in the bit of downtime I've had since Friday afternoon. <br /><br />On Sunday, I went with Frost, Ma Frost, and Pa Frost antiquing in the country. Our first stop was CJ's antiques on Hwy 24 between Brantford and Waterford. The store has three outbuilding and an unoccupied house full of refinished furniture that is all stripped and refurbished on site by the owners. I didn't know about the house the first time we were there, back in July. We spent at least an hour looking at all the interesting and locale pieces they have, and I had quite a lovely chat with Casey, the father of the owner who helps mind the shop. We might have a couple of pieces to go pick up, once we have moved into the new house, which dudes, is in 28 days, or four weeks from today!<br /><br />Our next stop was at the two antique shops in Waterford, which are in one big building near the stream. The antique shop at the very front has very nice stuff however it's all priced by the owner and his prices are quite high. The second antique shop at the back half of the building is owned and operated by Dave and his family but it works more or less on consignment where they have vendors who set the price and they get a percentage of the sale. The name of the antique shop aptly called the Waterford Antique Market. <br /><br />The first time we visited the Waterford Antique Market back in April, was the first time I layed eyes on this new toy. In July when we were there for a second time, as it's now become a key part of our visit to my relations in Branford to go antiquing in the country, it was still there. Again I hummed and hawed over weather to get it or not but left it behind. This time round, I decided that should it still be there, I'd take it, but try to barter with the vendor as it would not have moved in the last 6 months. To my surprise it was still there and I immediately clutched it in my paws and began walking around the store with it.<br /><br />An older lady, I'd say somewhere around 75 or 80 years of age, actually came up to me and said she'd had one as a child, but hers was black and silver instead of all tan. As it has no instruction booklet with it, I asked her how to thread it. Which she gladly told me how to do, and then went on her way out the back door of the shop. <br /><br />So here it is, a 1940's child's singer sewing machine. Complete with a clamp to hold it to a table. I don't own a sewing machine but it's in such great condition and working order, that I can totally use it to hem pants and such. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaPkKRHH9VkBE7KM64P6s0saNVJbkQ2bOnzUBmCCZUbhoK933UkX8Il1L7OwAlb5FncK6wBOsbnub2jfX-Cc_TI5LEPkrU2KTasXH7nHJLXzo2KjlpWtyekMsvOAFQxI_hbu94A/s1600-h/singer1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaPkKRHH9VkBE7KM64P6s0saNVJbkQ2bOnzUBmCCZUbhoK933UkX8Il1L7OwAlb5FncK6wBOsbnub2jfX-Cc_TI5LEPkrU2KTasXH7nHJLXzo2KjlpWtyekMsvOAFQxI_hbu94A/s320/singer1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386901294982922626" /></a><br /><br />The pint glass in this second shot is just for scale. It really is quite tiny. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vVAl4K50xu9wRasAaoL7EH4o0Voj4bxrcc1TCIc1I_yQrCge4iqeIYzS_y3M0ItZmU7PypneGOWuRZ3lfFUATZBm6nYxVYKlaXllJIfy2RoowiDvmkozmaZvlRoqc5GA4aDG1w/s1600-h/singer2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vVAl4K50xu9wRasAaoL7EH4o0Voj4bxrcc1TCIc1I_yQrCge4iqeIYzS_y3M0ItZmU7PypneGOWuRZ3lfFUATZBm6nYxVYKlaXllJIfy2RoowiDvmkozmaZvlRoqc5GA4aDG1w/s320/singer2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386901283410640274" /></a><br /><br />And the best part of all-Made in Canada!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNiNcAGXHozL0jCfqk3HTK-sgfZ-5FVTqvEaP6MDKMSDC4JSsqkfkWqjdrnxbR155Rm5J4oa6c27fYMwJahxQKbSw08HNicdRwdhWit8aSiQjjvem4tt8EaTI2Notj7dySoGV8A/s1600-h/singer3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNiNcAGXHozL0jCfqk3HTK-sgfZ-5FVTqvEaP6MDKMSDC4JSsqkfkWqjdrnxbR155Rm5J4oa6c27fYMwJahxQKbSw08HNicdRwdhWit8aSiQjjvem4tt8EaTI2Notj7dySoGV8A/s320/singer3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386901279132954466" /></a><br /><br />Now the kicker to this story is that just before leaving Waterford, we all went back into the first half of the building where the expensive antique market is. Pa Frost found in a glass cabinet a black and silver child's sewing machine just like the one I got, but it came with it's original box and instruction manuel. Which I guess explains the $225.00 price tag. Mine was a mere $125.00 with a 25% discount which would have come to $93 dollars and some change but I got the vendor to sell it to me for $80.00. My grandmother might have passed away back in April but I am proud to have inherited her barter gene.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-43011406641292623052009-09-24T07:56:00.000-04:002009-09-24T07:56:24.040-04:00Why Ravelry Is a GodsendOkay so last night, I found a new feature to make me love ravelry even more. <br /><br />Now I have a few wips at the moment that need to get done asap, before I die of boredom, they have been on the needles so long. The startitis flu takes me over every six weeks I have to admit. Nor does it help that the list I started to write out yesterday, of all the things I want to start and finish before Christmas, was blown out of the water last night when I realized I needed to haul ass today and cast on and finish the baby set for Frosts co-workers new baby girl. At least the sweater is done. All I have to do is whip up a hat and booties and find cute buttons, but I digress. <br /><br />My new favourtie feature is in the advance pattern search area. Since lets face it, I love knitting from free patterns I find on ravelry. Be it independent, first time designers or from the plethora of free on-line knitting magazines available to us these days. Now don't get me wrong, there are also great single patterns out there that cost a few dollars here and there but I am more of a buy the book or the magazine if there are at least 5 or 3 patterns respectively that I will make somewhere down the road from it. (I've only ever purchased two pdf's pattern downloads so far since i starting knitting 5 years ago, as I don't want to fall down that black hole as well) <br /><br />And that is where I get sucked in. Since I will go through books and magazines, find those patterns I will someday make, subsequently purchase said book or magazine and then come home and add it to my bookshelf. Half the time not even giving it a second glance. Until now. Last night I was trying to come up with what to make with the four skeins of manos silk blend yarn I recently purchased from my lys. While trolling through the advanced pattern search, I entered the weight of the yarn I wanted to use as DK and then for my second option under the "availability" tab, noticed in the drop down menu the "in library" option and clicked on "yes." <br /><br />Which means, that the search engine looks at all the magazines, books, booklets, and those few pdf patterns that I have purchased and is stored in my on-line library, and tells me which patterns I can make from my already existing stash of patterns. It's absolutely genius. Now all I have to do is troll through those patterns that come up in the search, and co-ordinate them with yarn I already have in my stash. I will also write down in the "notes" area on each individual yarn page of my stash, what pattern I plan to use with that particular yarn. Not that it will stop me from buying knitting magazines and pattern books, but it should start to make me use some of the ones I currently have in my possession, as that is what they're for.<br /><br />It makes having the amount of stash I already have listed on ravelry that much more bearable if I have some kind of idea what I'll be using it for. I may even start to add from that extra box of yarn that might be hidden under the bed into my stash page. In bits and drags of course as I don't want to give myself a heart attack.<br /><br />How rocking awesome is that discovery, EH?mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-27964580873601452002009-09-17T19:54:00.001-04:002009-09-17T19:56:59.519-04:00The real Polly JeanSo there was a bit of confusion with the litter of puppies last week. There were two liver and white female puppies that we could choose from. One had a kink in it's tail, the other did not. Frost wanted a dog with it's tail still attached not one without a tail. <br /><br />We were led to believe, the one we originally wanted, which has a white mark on it's arse, (what I refer to as an upside down heart) was the one with the kink in its tail, which needed to be docked. Since somewhere down the road it could have problems with a kinked tail getting caught in whatever blah blah blah.<br /><br />Then, this afternoon the breeder sent us recent photos of the puppies including this one.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqQ7ayCr5jrklcYf5C2MR2g1XKucNb87UVhUXniRkKdh3zDKruoWpqfl4Q4b6jAXcsPS_5m-1yf9zAGfy0Db1XCq758rGWMmXCU787MYjtjop8AxpRIT2bzHLPC8SRhM2nq2OYA/s1600-h/polly+jean.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqQ7ayCr5jrklcYf5C2MR2g1XKucNb87UVhUXniRkKdh3zDKruoWpqfl4Q4b6jAXcsPS_5m-1yf9zAGfy0Db1XCq758rGWMmXCU787MYjtjop8AxpRIT2bzHLPC8SRhM2nq2OYA/s320/polly+jean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382584984710252674" /></a><br />Clearly this dog has an upside down heart on it's arse and it's tail still attached. <br /><br />It's a bit difficult to see, but the photo below was taken the day before all but one of the puppies got their tails removed. Polly Jean is on the outer right hand side and you can see has a very straight tail. Her sister on the opposite side, on the outer left hand side, has a kink in her tail. As does the male liver dog in the middle which is a bit easier to see. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuxHgbzEdC_53ZBnZ9s0yqjxU2hRbQ2OhYlMIg2nnRuqUy2GUL-RWxSNgaj9yb51l953no5D0a9pZHIK_qwY2n1AttxArwCFSPSS61Bu6YynZQ9lX5Z0xPiqfCTgAwHZCMStHbA/s1600-h/puppies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuxHgbzEdC_53ZBnZ9s0yqjxU2hRbQ2OhYlMIg2nnRuqUy2GUL-RWxSNgaj9yb51l953no5D0a9pZHIK_qwY2n1AttxArwCFSPSS61Bu6YynZQ9lX5Z0xPiqfCTgAwHZCMStHbA/s320/puppies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382586695709016418" /></a><br /><br />Long story short we get the puppy we wanted all along complete with it's brown button nose!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsaD1sHYxNyYkYtzr7S2fbCFp48B_Zjd20ahTlwJz0Ht04Bctsg-NYbkO0pFoZPuRoSquUTZwomxj8I995vU70xW9kr045YBgveE00wIosXhojWTKlNiruVAhHgBCf8Ge5envKQ/s1600-h/polly+jean2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsaD1sHYxNyYkYtzr7S2fbCFp48B_Zjd20ahTlwJz0Ht04Bctsg-NYbkO0pFoZPuRoSquUTZwomxj8I995vU70xW9kr045YBgveE00wIosXhojWTKlNiruVAhHgBCf8Ge5envKQ/s320/polly+jean2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382587492842566322" /></a><br /><br />There eyes are still closed and should open up by the end of the weekend.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-36921176534151540512009-09-16T20:36:00.001-04:002009-09-16T20:37:30.176-04:00New MagazineHave you seen the new knitting magazine that will be hitting the stands this fall?<br /><br />It's call St-Denis Magazine and it's Premier Issue contains patters by Veronique Avery, Robin Melanson and Ysolda Teague just to name a few. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjhGECGc7-18He9Rlfr0uAk5vIw_bpayWRfbcm3AUOUwY2RTRCXwzIvq4VwHs1AwOin6w9YpuPTkI47irDX8nU_V9kuGeuSOH54lg2U8nkIkR1QbS5yqmCSh9d9mN99mh6Hua8g/s1600-h/3747180397_7d26d001be.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjhGECGc7-18He9Rlfr0uAk5vIw_bpayWRfbcm3AUOUwY2RTRCXwzIvq4VwHs1AwOin6w9YpuPTkI47irDX8nU_V9kuGeuSOH54lg2U8nkIkR1QbS5yqmCSh9d9mN99mh6Hua8g/s320/3747180397_7d26d001be.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382227416923853922" /></a> <br /><br />The cover shawl is amazing. I borrowed the image from the <a href="http://stdenisyarns.com/blog"> St-Denis blog.</a> I can't wait to see this magazine at my lys. Wink Wink Hint Hintmjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26864652.post-36201339966449846312009-09-15T06:25:00.000-04:002009-09-15T06:25:00.399-04:00Geek TasticWhile at the <a href="http://www.silversnail.com/storefront">Silver Snail</a> last week with Frost, I spotted and scored this piece of beauty. It's my very own Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper mug. After watching the week long third season of Torchwood, Children of Earth, back in July, I just had to have it. Even though I was disappointed that Ianto Jones was killed off, and that the fifth and final episode of season three was not as fulfilling as the other four episodes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis52nwek3rhiIOWHUPwSJdl0hmCtIUSA-xwAa7r0wFhLlNcEUhAtVpiSdSpltukjohW9pL7olMMfPIfGfEZ0EkFYi-4iSbxBs6f495fmAfJd5CAENxszleyB3nliucvAE6xtHP9g/s1600-h/torchwoodmug.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis52nwek3rhiIOWHUPwSJdl0hmCtIUSA-xwAa7r0wFhLlNcEUhAtVpiSdSpltukjohW9pL7olMMfPIfGfEZ0EkFYi-4iSbxBs6f495fmAfJd5CAENxszleyB3nliucvAE6xtHP9g/s320/torchwoodmug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381515672088612514" /></a><br /><br />They did have some Torchwood action figures in the shop but no Jack, Gwen or Ianto in stock so the mug will suffice for now, until we go back to the UK.mjm knittinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04283387505281973921noreply@blogger.com2