Catch Up

Wow, sorry about that. April's been a bit busy so far. To recap:

The weather finally decided to cooperate a little and the spring sports season started - mostly I watched lacrosse that first week (seriously, a lot of lacrosse) as 6 baseball games in a row were postponed/cancelled. How do I know that stat? My baseball coach went into crankypants mode - and it got to a point where I was worried that we would have to have him committed - he was about to start twitching from not playing (or practicing outside). But they've managed to get a few in now.

Last Sunday was Les Miserables - part of my Christmas present from the Jersey fam (a big huge Thank You! again). It was great - could have done without the lady behind me humming on and off (and then loudly expressing her views on the performance at intermission "Mediocre at best" - oy!) but other than that I loved it. It was good to finally have a fully realized picture in my head to go with the music.

Saturday was the Track Meet of Doom. And the weather was awful, again. It rained almost the entire day - and hailed for a few minutes during the 800 meter race, which was awesome! Seriously, several teams left during the lunch break. There weren't really any problems until the last race - 2 girls cramped during their 4x400 relay (hello, even though it's raining and chilly all day, you still have to hydrate! And eat!) But it all worked out in the end, I was a bit soggy and covered in mud, but I survived, as did everyone else.

Yesterday was the birthday party for Miss Aubrey.
Kid cleaned up - as always. She was so funny about it all - every present was "Wow! Mine?!" I would have taken more pictures, maybe even of other people, but my battery was dying. Oops. The big day isn't until tomorrow, but I can't believe that she's 2 already. That's just crazy.

Onto the knitting stuff. I've finished a bunch of stuff since the snow post, so I better get going on it.

I'll start big - I finished the Delancey Cardigan. And I love it. Haven't been able to wear it (silly work gets in the way of wearing nice clothes), but it's awesome. So soft, you don't need a shirt underneath, and comfy and warm and squishy and.... you get the idea.
Not the best photo, but the best I could do on my own with the timer and what not.

I whipped up a Citron in a week (not recommended) and decided to go crazy and bead the bind off. Seriously, that one last row of binding off with the beads, took literally 2 hours. Yikes. But it's pretty, and handspun!
I finished the Tea and Scandal socks - love them!
Yay for new socks! Then I started a new pair:

Pattern is Skew, from Knitty. And it's a wonky construction, so we'll see how they work out.
But they're pretty!

I was in a swap with the monster group on Ravelry, so I had to make a spring themed monster.
I think I succeeded. The yarn was the Monster of the Month club yarn from March - aptly called "Monster in my Garden". I made the little Bunny Nuggets for my swappee's kiddos. So cute.
Maddie wanted to know why the fluffy butts were so far away!

I started a spinning project this month too (finally!). I actually spun up the first bobbin during the Indians Opening Day game (a rather depressing game, but how bout that Tribe!) and then the second one on Saturday. Just waiting for enough time to ply (I'm thinking this weekend).
It's all but 30 grams of the 8 oz of "Water" from the fiber club I was in way back in '09. Love the blues!

And I knit for Miss Aubrey's birthday. First a kitty (who doesn't love kitties? especially when Maddie plays so hard to get when they're around):
Like her counterpart, Greta appears worried at the prospect of the kiddos.

And then a bunny, so that she can have it at home, as the Killer Rabbit here has been noticeably loved (the once white ears are now a lovely shade of dirt).
I love how he turned out, so stinking cute. I didn't love putting all the pieces together, but oh well.

Last night, I stayed up to sew together the project with April's Monster Club yarn. Meet Jerry the Sea Monkey!
It's like my perfect colorway - "Monster in a Kelp Forest", paired with "Sea Grass Green" for the complimentary color. I love him - he's so cute! I know that I've been on a Danger Crafts Pattern kick for a while - but I can't help it, they're all so cute. And fun. And quick - and I'm into the instant gratification knitting right now. So guess what? You'll be seeing more soon.

I'll leave off with something that made me insanely happy. I watched the girls a few weeks ago, and Miss Kathleen insisted on wearing a sweater that was sitting out in the bathroom (I played no part in persuading her at all, I swear, it was all her, which is why I was so happy).
And then she wanted to snuggle with her blanket too. Seriously - baby in handknits with crocheted blanket. Love it!

Cruelty

So, the sun was shining when I went to work this morning. I could see the crocuses - closed up tightly against the cold - but they were there. I came home to this:
Where the crocuses should be. But no - they are currently under a couple inches of snow, and it's still falling.
The poor daffodils and tulips. I mean, really? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it nearly April?
Just checking. Cruel, Mother Nature, cruel.

Marching Forward

I really am trying to be better about blogging. And now the pressure is on - Krista mentioned me on her blog. This week was a bit weird - but then again, school breaks usually are for me. We're in the middle of spring break, and neither of the LAX teams are practicing. I'm not complaining, but it's weird. Baseball season starts on Monday - can you believe it? We'll see if it actually happens. Mother Nature is being a bit cruel this March here in NE OH. Take today for example - it's beautifully sunny, but only about 30 degrees. So deceptive.

Onto some knitting, since I don't have much else to talk about. Look - it finally looks like a sweater!
So excited that it's nearly finished. Just the bottom edge and the shawl collar/button band left to do. Oh, and the ends - so many ends to weave in!

Socks progress too:
That's through the heel flap on the second Tea and Scandal Sock. And then I went and started another (much easier) sock too...
And am now through most of the leg. I think. I'm trying to decide how long to make it. Might add another repeat, or I might just go ahead with the heel flap.

I'm attempting another Flore Hat. You may remember what happened the last time... let me refresh your memory just in case you've forgotten.
Cute hat right? Meant for baby Kaylee (this was knit back in Oct of 2007 - just to give you a frame of reference). The problem was, well, this:
Yeah, way too big for infant Kaylee. So I am trying again, it's a gift for a Rav friend who is expecting. Because, really, it is a seriously adorable hat.
Much better. Nice and tiny. And not able to fit on my noggin.

This week I decided that I needed to frog my Holden Shawlette. It just wasn't working with the yarn choice. The lace pattern looked awful. So I decided to make me feel better, I needed something to distract me.
Handspun is good for that. Happy handspun in "Verdigris" that I spun last summer. Knitting up into a Citron. I made one of these last winter and gifted it to a knitting pal, so this one I'm keeping for me.
The color is much truer in this photo. Isn't it pretty?

I've also been busy on the monster making front - but nothing to show yet. Easter presents for the kiddos are in the works and it's no fun to spoil the surprise. But next week maybe I'll have something to show.

Last weekend the kiddos came over for a visit. And Aunt Ellen decided to make cupcakes. Mason was a most enthusiastic helper.
Seriously - it was so funny. And there are way more chocolate face pictures, I just picked the best ones.
Grandma's going to be so mad that I put that one up. But I had to! And just to prove that the other kiddos were at the house, and to share the love:
Yummo! I spent Wednesday morning with Aubrey and Elliott - but didn't take my camera - while Mason had his surgery. I'm lucky to have come away without any bruises on my face or concussion symptoms - they are really good at kicking the face/head when they climb all over you!

PS - My bracket is completely busted due to OSU's complete and utter FAIL last night, and ND's lackluster performance on Sunday. Boo!

Green

Annual St. Patrick's Day post.

I tried not to take too many pics at the parade this year - mostly because we see the same thing every year - literally. The first hour to hour and fifteen minutes - and it's the same every year. Although, there was a group advertising for the Asian Festival this year - which I thought was a bit odd. Japanese drums following bagpipers.... It didn't work for me. So here you go:
It was just me and Kaylee (with her aunts and cousins sitting with us) this year - Kathleen is fighting a wicked cold and cutting some molars, so Bridget stayed home with her. Notice that the Irish wolfhound is as tall as she is. His name is Napoleon.
What you get when you ask a 4 year old to smile nicely as you attempt to take your own picture. She thought it was hil-ar-i-ous!
The floats were pretty cool this year.
Um.... When did Ignatius start letting girls in? Perplexing. Oh - ps - Kaylee is going to play the cymbals when she gets big.
The Farmpark Clydesdales even got their green on! Guess they've never heard that song about the Budweiser and the Clydesdale.....
The finished second Irish monster.
Kaylee immediately claimed "Twinkerbell", but I have a feeling that she's going to end up with both of them at some point...
Not sure what she's doing here.... Practicing her aria perhaps? But this next one is my favorite shot of the day:
Hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day! And that you all enjoyed your Guinness responsibly. Remember, Guinness is good for you!