Back in the saddle.

Well, sort of.  I am all about moving forward these days, so I'll just pick up where I left off.  And thanks to you nice readers who emailed me to check on me, worried because of my blog break.  I've always loved that even though my blog isn't a big comment generator, I get a fair amount of emails about this or that from friendly folks I've never met. 

So, moving along...

My Aidez is long done.  I even got to wear it a couple of times before the weather warmed.  Just need to take some FO shots and post--then I will tuck it away.  But I will warn my friends that I will be living in this thing come fall...I love, love, love it.  I might even make another, which is utter nonsense considering how many other sweaters are waiting in my knitting queue.

I plan to put up two new sections on the side bar--an "on the needles" and an "off the needles" to better organize my knits (maybe my sewing too if I can ever manage to get back to it).  Right now, "on my needles" would include a simple, smooshy garter cardigan that I hope will be perfect for spring...

And a sunny shawlette.  I think this colorway looks like scrambled eggs so it's fitting as we lead up to Easter.  But in the end, I may need to rerack "how to overdye yarn" as a priority on my fibre skills list...it's a little too 'Hello Yellow!' for my tastes.  I think.  No, I'm pretty sure...

And socks.  I've decided it's time to tackle the knitterly milestone of knitting a pair of socks.  No picture yet.  But yarn is selected and research has commenced...

Sandra

Toasty.

I am back from my business conference.  It would be a lie to say I did not enjoy staying in a top hotel, networking at cocktail and dinner parties, and attending seminars that required different brain neurons firing.  But of course I fretted about the boys the entire three days.  They were in perfect hands--Charlie and my folks tag teamed--but still.  You know how it is.

I ambitiously packed my Aidez, thinking I'd have lots of down time--alone down time--to knit in my hotel room.  Nope.  I returned to my room quite late each evening and woke by 6:00 a.m. each morning to get in a workout.  And there was no down time whatsoever during the day.  I've attended lots of conferences in my working life.  The pace of this one was remarkable.  But I liked it.  I'm not interested in leaving my family for any sort of boondoggle. 

I have one sleeve left to go on Aidez.  But then the entire thing has to be seamed!  I've done one other seamed project (to be posted), and I can't say I like it much.  But perhaps it's because my seaming could use some practice, so this will be good.  I did recently finish up a pair of fingerless gloves. 

I knit a pair exactly like these last fall, but they have gone missing so I knit another set.  I used the leftover yarn from my first scarf project.  I can't believe it is still cold enough to wear these, but it certainly is.  This week anyways--that's Northern Virginia whiplash weather for you.  The pattern is Toasty by Leslie at A Friend to Knit With.  A perfect first project for double point needles, I'd say (it was mine).

Sandra

Off the couch, finally.

So much to share...birthdays and knitting and finally getting around to playing with iron-on vinyl (!) and organizing like a fiend...oh I've been busy.  But I am off for another conference for a few days, so I'll have to wait a bit.  Can you believe I have to wear business suits over the next few days?  Business suits.  When I unearthed them from my closet and tried them on, I felt like one of the boys playing dress up.  This new part-time gig I've got going (which I feel incredibly fortunate to have fallen into) is going to require some new time-management strategies on my part if I hope to keep all the balls in the air. 

But this week, I can't really fault the "work"...honestly, what took up every spare second was littlest one and the most rotten stomach bug I've encountered in my eight years of mommahood.  Now that's saying something, right?  I will spare you the details except this one:  each floor of our three level home was hit.  Literally.  As you can imagine, there were lots of pajama days and couch time, trying to keep him still to rest.  He was not a fan.

 

He is better now.  And I am thankful that cuddles from yours truly seemed to be an important part of the cure.  It has been ever so long since I've had him attached to my hip or in my lap nonstop.  I miss it. 

Miss blogging, too.  If I don't write it here, I forget.  And of course, as I always say, I don't want to forget these days.  (Well, except last Wednesday--don't need to relive that one.  Ewww.)

Sandra

Mixing it up.

After weeks and weeks of churning out the  coconut banana bread with lime-glaze, I decided to mix up a batch of banana bread from the "archives."  It was one of my original posts--Banana Blueberry Bread. 

I made a couple of loaves last week and completely over baked them.  I had an odd, nonchalant attitude about the entire thing and did not watch them like a hawk those last critical minutes in the oven.  This is a departure for me.  I have been known to pull a chair up to the oven and watch a baked good like a sitcom.  Perhaps gooey lime-glaze and its wondrous moisture-enhancing quality has made me a bit lazy?

Even though the bread turned out on the dry side, we nonetheless enjoyed some variety and I'll still reach for the recipe now and then.  But the boys are asking for our "normal" banana bread for their upcoming birthday breakfasts.  We celebrate three birthdays in just over five weeks.  And the first one, for littlest one,  is tomorrow! 

Sandra

Around the house.

Another reason I love spring?  The cleaning.  I'd think it strange how much I like spring cleaning but the other night, when I had some girlfriends over, it was all the talk so I know I am not alone.  That, or I have strange friends--but I don't think that's the case.  More likely, we all lead similar lives and the annual purge is very much welcomed.

The evening was so nice.  Some tea, girltalk, a new cookie recipe, some knitting...it was such a treat.

I need to write out the recipe for the keepers that filled my new cookie jar.  I picked it up to reward my severe editing of serviceware.  Perhaps that's why I like spring cleaning.  It gives me permission to buy pretty housewares because of newfound space.  Yes, that sounds about right.

This particular jar probably should have stayed put at the store, however.  It has done me no favors.  I think it's the cutest thing but it begs to be filled with freshly baked cookies.  And then the cookies call my name all day.  And night.  Not good.

I did a little work on my Aidez.  I should be done by the time it's too hot to wear wool. 

To wrap our knit night, one friend even brought over a new toy to give us paraffin treatments.  It felt fancy.                

It was a big change from how I usually spend my evenings--lately, my boys think that tackling me at bedtime is the funniest thing on earth.  It sort of is.

Speaking of tackling, tomorrow I tackle the garage!  And yes, I am so excited...

Sandra

Springtime, almost.

Signs of spring...oh, how I adore them.  More than I can say.  Mostly because each of our boys were spring babies.  And each year as their birthdays approach, I am always taken aback--although I should see it coming--when we emerge from winter and are confronted by growth everywhere.  The garden, the trees, the grass we've tried to grow in our splotchy yard for years.  But mostly, it's our boys and how they've grown in ways I could not have guessed.  I mean, do they eat weeds or something when I'm not looking?

I had one of those moments on a recent spring-like day when Leo decided to take on his big boy bike (the fact that I ran over one of his training wheels might have had something to do with it). 

After removing the trainers, there was--as far as I could tell--merely a soft whisper of encouragement before he zipped off. 

Charlie and I were rather stunned.  We were poised, ready to jog alongside him to lend a steadying hand.  But it simply wasn't necessary.  I barely had time to put my camera to my eye, he was so fast.  He did not wobble or stop...he rode like he's been doing it for ages, taking on curves, curbs, sidewalks, even menacing older brothers who couldn't believe how quickly he got it--you name it, he handled it.  

Makes me convinced he he was ready months ago when he politely declined to give it a go.  But now?  Now, there is no stopping him.  Way to go, Leo, my goodness.  But slow down.

As for littlest one, who we suspect will be trying out a two-wheeler at least two years before we're ready...I was delighted to see that he had not outgrown his front yard swing.  I am not ready to say goodbye to many baby things that fill our home, though it's hard to reconcile my sentimental urges with my spring-cleaning agenda.  It was a no-brainer with the swing, at least.  It's staying.

I'll say it again.  I love spring.

Sandra 

Recap, hats and such.

You know those bloggers who write weeks in advance and never face a lull in their posting?  Sigh.  I actually thought about adding "blogging more consistently" to my to-do list...but considering it's March and I have yet to post my New Year Resolutions, let's not kid ourselves, shall we?

But here's something I can do:  knit hats.  Besides these two, I have another one that I knitted on the plane ride to TX.  And another slouchy that I knitted over Christmas, then promptly forgot about.  There are no photos of either, yet, so I will have to post them soon (just nod).

First up, a lace slouchy that is heading to my sweet sister-in-law for her birthday.  I loved this pattern.  It's from Woolly Wormhead and is called the Mystery Beret, or Meret.  I plan to knit another one for myself in a lighter weight yarn and a fun spring color.  I'm thinking Kiwi.  I'm also thinking I'll start wearing make up before the next self portrait.

 if it looks like Iike I'm making googly eyes at my new camera it's because I am

Next is a one-afternoon-wonder due to the simple pattern (stacks of knit and purl rows) in chunky yarn.  I needed a brown hat...so I'm keeping this one.  The pattern is called Slouchy Beehive and can be found on Flower Pot Designs.  I modified it slightly:  no flipped brim and fewer repeats before decreasing...it is still plenty slouchy.

And here is the sweater I began while away in Texas last week...I am jumping, with both feet, onto the Aidez bandwagon.  I have ripped and restarted the back--after getting five inches into it--three times.  Three! 

This is my "I can do it" sweater.  I will stop labeling myself a beginner knitter once I finish it.  I'm usually not drawn to tons of cables and intricate stitches in sweaters.  But my heart went pitter patter as soon as I saw this pattern.  It takes a fair amount of concentration in the beginning, so attempting my latest restart during the Oscars was not the best idea.  But I'm getting there.  What I lack in skill (which is a lot), I usually make up for in sheer determination.  This applies to more than knitting.

Sandra

Status.

Since I last posted, I have, in no particular order:

*  flown to Texas

*  visited dear family friends

*  ate plenty of TexMex

*  had several margaritas

*  attended an amazing business conference

*  made new friends

*  tried to fly back from Texas, but had a travel hiccup (which was my fault)

*  crashed at my dear family friends home

*  got in 3 runs

*  knitted a hat

*  started knitting a sweater

It's been a challenging yet good week.  But I've missed everyone back home terribly.  I am sure I will fill in more details, later.  Here is a picture of littlest one who was running errands with Charlie and grandma...they came across some pint-sized golf clubs and Charlie snapped a picture with his phone camera and emailed it to me, with a caption along the lines of, "the future."

Would you look at that face?  Must.  Get.  Home. 

Sandra

Why hello there, Mr. Sun.

This week, we enjoyed a preview of some spring-like weather.  We also received our first installment of Girl Scout cookies.  I will not go on record and state how many boxes are headed our way from various orders--other than to say it's frightening.

With the afternoons so warm and lovely, we enjoyed sitting outside for a spell. 

Well technically, I suppose, it was I--and I alone--who sat, devouring my new camera manual (figuratively) as well as other things (literally)...    

The boys played and played.  It was amusing to watch them attack the garage as if they hadn't seen its contents in ages.  Max came across a bag of items set aside to donate and quickly invented a game of "keep away the lamb."  Not sure what it involved, exactly, other than a lot of chasing, tagging, and a scuffed knee.   

I can report that it tuckered him out...

William grabbed a bit out of every corner of the garage, greeting each item like an old friend... 

And Leo organized a neighborhood game of soccer...it's a new version, where the entire team serves as goalies...    

   

As for me, I have two newly knitted hats to show for the equal number of lazy afternoons spent outdoors this week.  Keeping my hands busy as I keep an eye on the boys makes me feel productive.  I will take proper pictures of the finished hats soon.  But here is a preview.  I think it beats pictures of what else resulted from my impromptu al fresco afternoons:  an unruly kitchen, unvacuumed living and dining room, un-put-away laundry.  Totally worth it, I say.                 

Happy Friday!

Sandra

Crockpot Pho.

During wintry weather, I often crave soup.  A few weeks ago, I craved Pho.  But it was during our snow days and I did not have the necessary ingredients on hand to make my standard version.  

Perhaps I should back it up a bit and not presume that everyone knows of Pho.  Just because I nearly lived off of the Vietnamese beef noodle soup during my law school years doesn't mean it's mainstream.  But it should be--because really, it's delicious.  And it's not at all difficult to make at home.  You just need the right ingredients.  The very ingredients my pantry lacked.

And this of course was the precursor to me flipping through a cookbook on a snowy day, searching for a recipe that I had previously dismissed.  Make that scoffed at, then dismissed.  Because I just couldn't imagine a crockpot turning out a version of my beloved soup that was anything, you know, worthwhile.

It is from the cookbook Make it Fast, Cook it Slow.  The recipe is posted online here.  It's not the real deal because it lacks a certain depth of flavor.  But that said, it absolutely hit the spot, craving-wise.   And now that I'm open to this sort of thing (and have stocked my pantry again), I plan to try Steamy Kitchen's version next.

My  notes:  I don't add the noodles to the broth while cooking because I find that doing so turns the noodles to mush.  Instead, I like to prepare them separately.  Follow the directions on your package, but in case they are not in English (like the variety I seem to pick), here's what I do:  soak your dried rice noodles in warm water for 15 minutes to soften them, then cook them in boiling water for a few minutes.  I then add the soft noodles to individual bowls and add the soup separately.

Sandra