Toys and an Early Snow

My weekend got off to rocky start with a Friday that I'd rather forget which is why there was no post. Blame insurance adjusters, the unhelpful woman at the collision shop, a bad lunch and a busy day at work that kept me a little late. Sadly, Friday was also my birthday. The saving grace was a smily baby and a ton of lovely birthday messages. Moving on.

Better that we should celebrate Miss M's 4 month birthday. She's the one who got the great report at her check up on Thursday and she got a toy to celebrate. Yay for toys!


I tried to get a good (not blurry) picture of Miss M enjoying her new toy but she was having too much fun. She has suddenly realized that all the stuff we put in front of her can go IN THE MOUTH and OMG is that the best thing ever! Not only does her saucer have new stuff to shove in her mouth.... she can see us when she's standing up in it and spin herself around to follow our movement. Is there anything better than that?

It's good that we had a lot inside to keep us entertained because it snowed by us on Saturday. Such a crazy thing! DQ had the Homecoming dance that night and, like many girls, had to revise her outfit to include a winter coat to cover her pretty dress.


On the positive side, the early snow offered great photo opportunities. You don't often see snow on the fall leaves. They were really pretty.

So much more to say about the weekend and I even have pictures of some of it.

Dyed

There are very few things that are true for everyone, everywhere but I suspect that the feeling of accomplishment you get from crossing things off your "to do" list is one of them. It seems like the longer the list - the better it feels. My list is about as long as it's ever been so this week has been really good. I've been going through my list and crossing off things that had been lingering - making phone calls and appointments, planting, organizing, straightening and dyeing!



The last time I showed you this yarn it was pristine white, wound up on cones, waiting for my attention. Due to rain, a super busy schedule, and fear this yarn was still undyed until last weekend. That's when I finally decided to suck it up and dye that yarn because it can't become kippot until it's dyed.

I really don't know what I was so afraid of. Yes, dyeing linen is different from dyeing wool but it wasn't hard. In some ways it was actually easier. No need for piping hot water. Even better, linen isn't going to felt! It's one of the few fibers that LIKES to be beaten up.


So I spent my weekend dyeing three skeins of linen in colors that Stinkette and I agreed on. Most of it is purple (seen in the foreground) and the rest is a sky blue (seen in the background). Truly the most onerous part of dyeing the yarn was rinsing it. Now it's dyed, rinsed, and dried. I just have to turn it into yark cakes and away we go. Yay!

It feels really good.

In Action

This is a fairly rare picture - an action shot of Stinkerbelle. Hehehe. I really shouldn't say that because she does play 2 sports. This was taken during the second game of a double-header yesterday and a little over an hour after this game ended she was warming up for field hockey practice. Hardly a couch potato even if she does a excellent impression of one.

This picture actually captures one moment in a great day for our girl. She had a few really good hits and made a few really good plays. Add a little sunshine and temperatures that were just this side of cold and it was a great afternoon. A great weekend in general. I watched my girls do great stuff (all of them) and even got a few things on my to do list done. Yay! Sadly that didn't include grocery shopping but food shopping isn't nearly as enjoyable as the stuff I did do.

ECF - Occupy DC Edition

This is what I saw when I arrived at work yesterday. Apparently the folks in the park got creative over night. The park police were not amused. They took it down super fast.

That got me thinking that there is a lot to look at in the park. It's not just tents. So I'm sharing some of the stuff that I found amusing. Whether you agree or disagree with them, they sure are interesting to watch.

Occupy McPherson Square has an identity.


A new twist on the DC license plates.


What would Ghandi think of all this?


And, finally, this is for Carole. Yes, they have a library here too.

A Hat For My Baby

It took quite a while but my baby girl finally has a hand knit that was made just for her by her knitter mom. It's just a little hat made out of Dancing Leaf Farm Bee Bop yarn. Aren't the colors yummy?


These pictures were taken at the Sugarloaf Crafts Fair last weekend. DQ and I took Miss M and the three of us had a great time. The weather was fabulous - sunny with just the right amount of crispness in the air. We shopped and relaxed and had a great time together.


Everywhere we went people commented on Miss M's hat. The pattern came with the yarn and it's pretty basic. It called for a crocheted flower but that seemed like a bit much. I did think it needed something though, so I made a little pom pom. Perfect! DQ was wondering if a single pom pom should be called a "pom" instead. A cheerleader she knows swears this is correct.


Anyway, the most important thing about the hat (aside from the cuteness) is that it stays on. It can't keep her warm if it's not on her head. It does get in my sweet baby's eyes occasionally but I can fix the by turning up the brim.

I hope you don't mind the extra pictures. It's so hard to choose.

The Feast of Booths

The Occupy DC folks are still camped out near my office and I continue to find them fascinating. Apparently I'm not alone in this. It's not uncommon to find random office dwellers roaming about the park - some with cameras - checking it out.

It's surprising that they're still there because it's raining today and they're predicting quite a deluge but the tents are still up. In fact, the community there is still growing and now there are several dozen tents covering most of the (newly planted) grass.



It's the new structures sprouting up here and there that amuse me most. I first saw this one late last week and it stopped me in my tracks. I looked at it from a distance and had to get closer to see if it was what I thought it was. It is! It's a Sukkah, part of the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. It really surprised me because these folks living in the park have done something that I've wanted to do (and not gotten around to) for the past twelve years. Amazing!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Ways to Eat Pumpkin

This is a picture of a pumpkin I grew a few years ago. I really hope that we can get our act together and grow some next summer. We bought some pumpkins to eat this year and I'm sure that we'll buy more for carving but it's not the same as cooking or carving those that you grew yourself. It'll still work though and that's a good thing because I really like pumpkin. It's one of those things that I've grown into.



It could be said that I have pumpkin on the brain lately. It could have something to do with a certain frozen yogurt store near our house. They have the most delicious pumpkin frozen yogurt. Yum! And thus begins my list...

1. Frozen yogurt
2. Ice cream - I told my friend about my fro yo obsession and she told me that I missed tastes of pumpkin ice cream at TJ's.everything they make is fab.
3. Pumpkin spice lattes
4. Pumpkin bread - I love it when my daughter makes it. She was with me when I bought pumpkins this year. It was a hint. A broad hint. She is being obtuse.
5. Pie - duh!
6. Ravioli - I'm pretty sure that I've had pumpkin ravioli before but maybe it was butternut squash. Hmmmmm... I bet pumpkin would be good too.
7. Butter - It's just like apple butter. I think that I had this at the same place as the ice cream. As I said, all their stuff rocks.
8. Soup - pumpkin soup on cold fall day.
9. Pumpkin roll - with cream cheese frosting of course.
10. Cheesecake - this is another one that I'm not sure if I've actually had or if I'm imagining it but boy does it sound yummy.

Did I miss any?

Occupy DC

I'm sure that you've all heard about the "occupy" movement but have you experienced it? Seen it up close? I have. I wouldn't call it a pleasure but it certainly is interesting.


The part of Occupy DC taking place on Freedom Plaza has been in the news earlier this week because they got permission from the park service to stay there for 4 months but I think they're nuts. I used to walk through Freedom Plaza every day on my way to and from work and it's just a big stone plaza on Pennsylvania Ave. So not a comfy place to camp.


Closer to my current office (close enough to smell it) is another Occupy DC outpost in McPherson Square. It's a lovely, shady, park and now it's home to a bunch of folks. They've really moved in.

I looked it over yesterday morning. They've got a nifty, well-stocked pantry with produce and condiments and they're out there cooking up a storm when I pass in the morning. They've got signs up indicating where the compost pile it and where the sleeping area is. I saw folks playing cards and a guy with a guitar. Urban camping at it's best.

As I observed it all I noticed some small children in their pajamas wandering around. I wonder what they must think of the experience now. What will they take away from it? Will they look back on it fondly in the future? Will they feel like they were a part of something big or will they think their parents were nuts?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things I Did This Weekend

It's Tuesday again. Time for another list and this time it's a list of stuff we did over the weekend. It was a long weekend here in the U.S. and in the Washington DC area it was enhanced by fabulous weather. It was sunny and warm with beautiful blue skies and I took no pictures at all. None.

What I did do was enjoy time with family and friends and, happily, I accomplished plenty of things to flesh out this list. Here we go:

1. Celebrated Yom Kippur by going to synagogue. I am so proud to say that we went as a family and enjoyed some of the most beautiful services of the year. Even the baby behaved.

2. At the conclusion of the holiday on Saturday we hosted or annual break fast for some of our friends. The girls and I cooked up a storm and most of it was gone at the end of the day.

3. Finished my first knit for Marissa. She couldn't wear it yet because who needs a wool hat when it's 80 degrees out?

4. Started planning my next knit for Miss M. I'm thinking of a sweater. Goodness knows there are enough cute patterns for little girls.

5. Watched Stinkette's softball double header. We tied one game and lost the other but our girl made some excellent plays.

6. Took Stinkette to get a hair cut. Her lush, red, mane had gotten quite long and shaggy. Sadly looking at her hair makes me feel sad about mine which, post pregnancy, is falling out in clumps.

7. Bought pants for me and Miss M. One of us felt the need to wear a belt the other day as something other than a stylish accessory. Dare I hope this is the start of a new trend for me?

8. Hired an architect. OMG! This scares me soooo much.

9. Planted some bulbs. I got rhizomes for some gorgeous irises. If they survive I ought to have some fabulous new additions to my landscape this spring.

10. Watched Stinkette play field hockey. I get tired just watching her run around.

ECF - Three Month Old Miss M Edition

Well, they're a week late due to the rainy days and Miss M's recent cold but finally I've got pictures of my girl at 3 months. And they're just in time for ECF. Yay!


Since they're a little late I've got a few extra to offer. She was in such a good mood when I took these. She was happy and smiling at me. I just love happy babies.


Note that my sweet girl is already decked out in Halloween duds. That would be her sister, Stinkerbelle's doing. Our Stink loves Halloween and insisted that her baby sister needed 2 cute outfits and she'll probably wear them all month long.

Color and Texture

While it is true that I love fiber festivals and I'm missing both MDS&W and Rhinebeck this year, that not why I went to Montpelier last weekend. It would've been an excellent excuse but I already had one. I had to pick up the yarn I ordered for Stinkette's kippot. Here it is - linen.


I kind of love it even though it's going to be a challenge. It was a family decision and that's kind of cool too. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it worked up samples and shared them with Bruce and Stinkette and we all agreed that this was what we'd use. What surprised me was the reasons they gave. Stink said that she liked the texture and that it wasn't shiny. She also noted that it was more of a true white. Bruce chose it because it had more body and would hold it's shape well. I feel so proud! I'm rubbing off on them.

Although the linen was the first thing I picked up at the festival, it was far from the last. If I'm there then why not shop?

This was an early purchase. It just about begged to come home with me. It's a color called Grateful Dyed from Wild Hare Fiber Studio. Normally I'd say it was too bright but for a baby .... it's perfect. I just love the bright colors for Miss M. Maybe socks, maybe a hat. I'll see what it tells me.



Apparently colorful yarn was the order of the day because not only did I pick up a skein of Bee Bop from Dancing Leaf Farm, but I started knitting it up the same night! Lots of color here!



It's going to be a simple little hat for Miss M. It got cold here last weekend and my poor girl was stuck wearing a pitiful pink hat that kept falling over her eyes. I got to recognize the particular whimper she does when that happens very well. Now it's warm again for a few days and I aim to finish her hat before she needs it again. Then we'll see what kind of a model she is.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Things You Love About Weddings

Today we're talking about weddings and what we love about them. It's been a long time since I've been to a wedding. Things come in cycles - everyone is getting married, then everyone is having babies, all those babies are going to school, being Bar & Bat Mitzvahed and now all those babies are going off to college. All of these events are exciting but there's something about a wedding.



Here is a picture I took of the flowers at my cousins wedding a number of years ago. Since I haven't been to a wedding in quite a while I recycled this one. Here's the list.

1. The Dress - I admit it, I was one of those who couldn't wait to see what Kate would wear when she married William. I think that half the world was with me on that one. A great wedding dress is a thing of beauty and a less fab one is a conversation starter forever.


2. The Flowers - I love flowers. They're a great opportunity for the photographers in the crowd and they're just plain pretty.


3. Food - Ok, this is a little iffy. I've been to weddings where the food was cold or just not good but that's not the norm. Usually the food at weddings is plentiful and good. Little hot dogs anyone?


4. The Cake - This really does deserve an entry of it's own. Aside from the dress I think that the cake is one of the things that people most anticipate.


5. Bridesmaids Dresses - Delight or Disaster? One look at the bridal party says so much about the event. Girls in neon, fru-fru nightmares can probably define bridezilla for you with excellent examples.


6. Seeing Friends and Family - We're most likely to gather together for 2 big life cycle events - weddngs and funerals. The former is certainly more fun.


7. Having an Excuse to Get Dressed Up - So many events these days are casual and that's a good thing but... every so often it's nice to have a reason to really get dresssed up. Go for a mani/pedi and get yourself all done up for real.


8. Music - If they've got a good band then a wedding can really get hopping. Dance to the music or just sit and lose yourself in it.


9. People watching - People do such dumb stuff - especially when they're drunk.


10. They're Life Affirming - There are few things that express our hope for the future quite as clearly as weddings and births. Both events tell the world that we believe that good things are ahead and we want to share them - with a spouse or a child.

What do you love about weddings?

A Sweet New Year

Last week I took a few days off to celebrate the Jewish New Year. As always it was filled with friends and family but it was extra sweet this year because last Thursday Miss M was three months old. She's been having ongoing weight issues so we had a scheduled weight check at the pediatrician and the news was great. Our girl is well over ten pounds now! This means no more weight checks since she is firmly in the normal weight range for her age. Yay! Normal I'd punctuate a statement like this with a picture of our girl but she has a cold and red noses and eyes aren't terribly cute. Hopefully I can remedy the situation late this week.



I do have pictures to share today and they're from another great day over the long weekend. On Saturday DQ and I went to the Fall Fiber Festival & Montpellier Sheep Dog Trials. All through the long drive there it threatened to rain and I was really not excited about dashing among the rain drops as we shopped for yarn. We went because there was some specific yarn that we needed to pick up there. (more on that later)



We were really happy we went though. The rain held off just long enough for us to enjoy the festival and began on the drive home. Before that we had a lovely lunch including sweet potato fries for DQ and fresh lemonade for me. Yum. We saw sheep and some familiar faces. I also bought a bit of yarn in addition to what I went for. It seemed silly to do all that driving and not shop for real. ;) Besides, Miss M needs a nice warm hat to prevent any more colds this winter.