Showing off Australia

Time has passed quickly this January. My parents arrived at the beginning of the month and we've spent the last 3 weeks showing off Perth in all it's glory.

I think the highlight for my dad was the kangaroos.

He said it wouldn't be Australia if he didn't see kangaroos. So we delivered. We called him the kangaroo-whisperer. Not bad for a farm boy from Saskatchewan.

My mom on the other hand has the "take the bloody picture now before I pee my pants" look about her.
We even got a chance to have a quick family picture taken (this almost never happens - all cleaned up and sitting pretty).


And to top if off, I made a scarf. It's a silk-bamboo yarn blend from Kauai - soft and light and perfect for summer.
Next up - February. It should bring finished socks and maybe a sweater started....just maybe.

The Usual Excuses

I've been busy, I haven't had time, blah blah blah.

The usual.

I even have something finished to flaunt, but as of today, no pictures have been taken.

My parents arrived last week from Canada (well, California actually, but that's a long story, and if you had forgotten....I'm too busy to explain), and we are keeping them busy at a blistering pace. Beaches, and more beaches, and Cricket matches, and shopping, and eating out, and enjoying all that is Perth. Hence, little knitting.

I'm looking forward to February when life gets back to the normal, school-going, work-going, knitting-time friendly, routine, but I'm also not wishing away this time we have right now.

Gotta run....I'm busy.

One Sexy Beast

These buttons can tell a story of travels from Oregon to Alberta and then to Australia. I have to say I wasn't sure if they'd be worth the wait....


(I think they were - they look amazing on it....)


My Love is one of the most patient people I know (he has to be - he lives with me) - but I think he was getting somewhat impatient about getting his sweater.


I'm pretty sure he thinks it was worth the wait.

Abrazo

I finished this a bit ago but haven't had time to figure out my new camera - all it's settings and how to download onto the computer.

But despite these minor issues, I did manage to catch a few pictures of this little shawl that I knit for my sister.


The yarn is Silk Thread from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I also used this yarn for my mom's Ishbel, and I still have enough to make myself a small shawl or large scarf.


The yarn is ridiculously soft and you just can't stop touching it.


I hope my sister likes it - she is having a hard time these days, and I hope this might cheer her up, even if it's just a little bit.

The Truth

My Love and I are home from the Land of Oz.

We went to the beach with a rugby team (the Western Force).


Drove on the other side of the road.



Had a flat white.



Tried on hats for the Melbourne Cup.



Watched Cricket.



Played Cricket.


Found a knitting shop.



Had dinner on the beach, with the sunset.



And, have decided to move there. Seriously.

Shut down for maintenance

Baad Medicine industries has to take a little leave.

J. is off in the land of pineapple and luaus.

T. is off to the land of koalas and kangaroos.

We will be back in a couple weeks, with stories, knitting and more.

In Limbo

The week between Christmas and New Year's is always one of my favorites - at least since I work for a place that is always closed for that week. You are trying to relax, put toys together, eat more and hunker down.

However, my kids are a little tired of being together every moment for the last week, so some friends coming over is a welcomed distraction.

And the inaugural skate on the backyard rink. My biggest kid did NOT want to come inside - he could have been out there all day.

We have a few more days of this blissful existence before the return to the regular schedule. We'll try and enjoy every minute of it.

I actually finished something

It is a shock to me. I finished knitting something. And almost on time.

This is my mother's 60th birthday present, given to her in the sunny Californian Desert.

I asked it to be given immediately back to me, because, yes the knitting was complete, but the blocking was not.


It is made with Handmaiden Rumple in Ivory. It is a shimmery gold colour. Lovely yarn, but a true pain in the butt to work with. Think of novelty yarn made out of 100% silk and hand-dyed. Gorgeous but frightfully annoying (kind of like my kids).

Happy birthday Mom. You'll have it to take back with you to the desert.

Things I Learned on My Vacation

1. You can make anything out of Lego.


2. Giraffes are large animals with long black tongues.



3. My children are exhausting.



4. My children make me laugh everyday.



5. My husband makes me smile everyday.



6. Christmas celebrations are a whole lot different in the desert.


7. Family vacations are amazing. Can't wait to do it again.

Thankful

What am I most thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend?

This guy.



12 years of marital bliss.

I love you.

Give myself some credit

I ran into a neighbour today out shopping. She too was looking for some new winterwear and obviously shops at the same fancy stores as I do.

We were chit chatting about the school and after school activities and how September sucks the life out of mothers. Then she said "I just don't know how you do it all Teri". And I laughed. My neighbour - the uber-mother of 4 is surprised by my schedule? Everyday I see her I wonder the same thing, how does she do it all?

We look at our neighbours and catch these small snippets of their life. We see them getting into their cars, going for walks and chasing children in their yard. But these are just little glimpses into their reality. Just like they only know about my life from what they see (mostly me scurrying to and from the car with the kids in tow). And when we catch these windows into our neighbours lives we often underestimate what we are doing. The lovely person across the street always seems to have it together, she must me an amazing mom. I've only ever seen the lady around the corner with a smile on her face, she must have it all together.

And they look back and me and see the same thing.

Maybe sometimes I should try and see what they see.

September Changes

This is a busy busy month over at Baad Medicine Industries. We have 3 children starting school (2 for the first time - and they get to go together, Princess #1 and my Stinky), new work schedules, going back to work preps for J. and just general insanity.

To try and keep J. and I from losing it (and we teeter on the levels of sanity at the best of times) we've decided to both start Wisteria. We're knitting it in the same yarn (different colours - any guesses who is knitting in blue and who in orange?). We're trying to complete a totally selfish project before more Christmas knitting overtakes October and November.

Do you want to join us? Get the pattern, wind the yarn and let's go......

Husband of the Year?

Last week, my Love abandoned me for a few days to go to Boston for "work" (as far as I'm concerned, it can't truly be considered work if it's in a fun place). The College he was staying at was 10 miles from Webs. Yes, you heard me. 10 miles from the largest yarn store in America. 10 miles. To top it off, on the shuttle out to the conference he met a knitter who ALSO wanted to go to Webs.

So he went. He went with a list and my hopes that he wouldn't be overwhelmed.

He took pictures of the store.


He took pictures of the warehouse - yes, warehouse.


He took a special picture just for J. (note the reference in the picture to your knitting boyfriend - I guess my Love does listen to me when I drone on about knitting)


And he may have bought me some yarn. Maybe. (I'll show you that next time....it's good).

Baby Rose

Le Tour is complete and with that, so is my baby shawl.

It has a rose petal pattern for the body that I found in my Harmony Guides (do you have them? you should).

My favorite part is the small little leaves that accompany the little pink rose bud.

This is definitely not a sleeping binkie...but more of a keepsake.


I hope my little niece enjoys this for years to come.

Day of rest

Tomorrow is a rest day in Le Tour and I'm going to rest as well. I'm about 1/2 done the shawl (and halfway done the yarn) so I'm ahead of schedule. I need a little break from the blanket. It's only been just over a week, but it's not like me to immerse myself so fully in a project.

I may work on my shawl for the Edmonton Knitters lace-a-long as I haven't started Clue 3 yet...


Or I may start the sleeves on my cardigan...

Or try both?

Welcome

A new cousin is here.

There are 2 very proud big cousins.

And an aunt and uncle who are honored to be her godparents. I've decided I should knit her a baby shawl for the baptism. Something with a "rose" theme.

I need help.....

Tomorrow

I get to meet my new niece or nephew....


Tomorrow I get to sniff a soft little head and coo into a baby's ear.


Tomorrow I get expand the list of cousin names when I say prayers with Punky.


Tomorrow I get to wrap a new little soul in this...


Tomorrow can't come soon enough.

Travels

My week is mainly going to be composed of getting ready for a work-trip and spending as much time as possible with the boys before I go away. I'm only gone for 5 days, but I know (as much as I complain about them at times) I will miss them all terribly.

So what does a knitter do to get ready for a trip?

Find out where the yarn stores are of course.

I've enquired with the appropriate group on Ravelry and received some PMs as well regarding the different stores. I have a tentative plan for seeing what I can.

The next thing a knitter needs to plan....travel knitting. I actually have no idea what to bring. I'd like to finish my Kai-Mei socks, but I'd also like a really simple and easy to transport project. I will be stash-diving tonight to look at my options.

For now, back to the lists. Lists for packing, lists of meals I've prepared for the family, lists of reminders for my Love regarding all child-related activities (he would argue that he needs no lists....). I always feel more prepared once I've made a list.

What am I forgetting?

Ishbel MacDonald

I had an Auntie Ish. I have vague memories of this lady, my Popeye's sister. The lady who gave my parents the piano which I learned to play on (with the guilt of "we promised Auntie Ish you would take lessons"). The lady who was well-educated for someone of her generation and status. A lady who, for some reason, I remember having a lot of blankets (I'm not sure if this is true, or some crazy memory I've constructed from nothing). The lady who drew lovely pictures, but also some scary ones (there's a charcoal cat one that always freaked me out).

When I saw the pattern Ishbel, not only did I love the pattern, I had to knit it because of the name. That name I always thought was so pretty that I'd used it as a middle name if I ever had a daughter (it was promptly vetoed by my husband, and our never-to-be-born daughter will remain Mariska Rebecca Joan).

I've named my shawl Ishbel MacDonald, not because that was my aunt's real name (it wasn't) but because MacDonald makes me think of the Scottish side of my family. And reminds me of my Popeye (my grandfather). And it is the middle name of one of my boys.

And with those thoughts and memories and this erractic post, what is the take home message?

Pretty name. Pretty shawl.

Getting rid of the Knitting Blues

I'm back baby. My knitting mojo has returned and with it a flurry of knitting activity.

Socks...


A Valentine's day Hat....

(there are 2 mistakes....J.'s already found them...can you???)

And other various secret activities.

It feels good to feel like knitting. AHHHHH. I'm a much more easy to manage person when I knit. I think my husband is glad I got my mojo back too. My knitting mojo people (get your head out of the gutter).

Next up??? I feel like spring knitting. This is calling my name. Unfortunately I have no yarn in the stash for it. Lucky for me, Webs has a plethora of options. Like this and this and this and this. And we all know I don't need any of it.....