new yarn motivation

20130110-221115.jpg

I finished up the granny cowl and I thought my new yarn might motivate me to finish up one more project. It’s crazy, right? I mean how long can I resist the new yarn?

This is Boheme #3. It’s been on hold since before the holidays. Gotta get it done. I do have pics of Boheme #2. I’ll try to post them soon. (Boheme #1 is here.)

my daughter, the reader

20130109-102504.jpg

When my daughter was younger, many of our afternoons were spent with a big stack of books on the living room floor. I’d read while crocheting and she’d turn the pages. As she began to read on her own, she’d spent hours in her room re-reading those books to herself. I knew the stories. I was familiar with the characters. Everything she knew, I knew.

Then she started kindergarten and the librarian introduced her to chapter books. In the beginning we read them together, first alternating pages and then alternating chapters. Then one day she sat down and read a Judy Moody from cover to cover by herself and that was it.

At one magical instant in your early childhood, the page of a book—that string of confused, alien ciphers—shivered into meaning. Words spoke to you, gave up their secrets; at that moment, whole universes opened. You became, irrevocably, a reader. — Alberto Manguel

Now I am officially out of the loop and it’s a little weird. I don’t know the names of the Zig Zag kids or about any of the Magic Treehouse adventures. Do Fashion Kitty and Bad Kitty have actual names? What about Judy Moody’s brother Stink? All the sudden, knowing the name of the Man in the Yellow Hat no longer seems impressive. (It’s Ted, by the way.)

I love that we still go to the library together. I love curling up with her on the couch while we both read our own stories. I love that she loves books. But I have to admit that when I watch her become completely absorbed, I imagine the characters and stories swirling around in her head, and I can’t help but feel a little left out.

finished: granny stripe scarf

I’ve got a lot of finished projects from December and thankfully I remembered to take pics before sending them off. The other day a reader asked for an update on the pink and gray granny stripe scarf so let’s start with that!

pink and gray granny stripe scarf

I love, love, love how this scarf turned out. I even considered keeping it. Instead, I followed it up with three granny cowls, one of which is here, the others I’ll post soon. What is it about clusters of double crochet stitches? So pretty and fun to make.

stash: Pink is Lion Brand Wool I picked up on a crazy clearance sale years ago, gray is Lion Brand Woolease gifted to me by a friend.

“good morning sunshine” desktop background

january sunrise

Yes, I am that person standing out in the cold in her jammies taking pictures of the sky at seven in the morning. Something this beautiful deserves the effort, don’t you think?

I’ve saved it as a desktop background. Feel free to download and share.

valentines already?

20130106-205142.jpg

I wasn’t surprised when I saw Valentine’s Day candy at the store a few days before Christmas — ok, maybe a little bit — but I was when my daughter started making cards today. I blame it on the craft section of her Highlights magazine.

Seriously, though, we just took down the tree. I need more time between holidays. Please tell me I’m not the only one.

trying very hard to finish this project

20130106-000307.jpg

I started this cowl just before Christmas. After packing up and sending off gifts for everyone else, I decided to make something for myself. It’s a möbius granny cowl using wool from my stash.

It’s almost finished. My new yarn is calling. I just can’t have one more work in progress. Hope to have final pics soon.

The book in the background is a vegan Indian cookbook. It has lots of slow cooker recipes. Looking forward to trying a few.

UPDATE: The book is Vegan Indian Cooking: 140 Simple and Healthy Vegan Recipes. (amazon link)

this (retro) moment

20130104-220211.jpg

A lot of people have told me they miss my “this moment” posts. I’ve decided to start them up again, on Fridays, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll always play by the rules. The post is supposed to come from that week, but I’ve got a lot of post-worthy pics since the last time I regularly did this.

I’m also not supposed to use any words. Whatever. Although, I don’t have much to say about this one. Umbrella on a sunny day after a blizzard? I got nothing.

see you later, santa

20130103-214455.jpg

Every year the decorations seem to come out earlier and stay out longer. I guess that’s life with a six year old. I’m putting my foot down tomorrow. The tree is collecting dust. It’s time to come down.

Is it too early to start thinking about Spring?

a new year, some new yarn

20130101-155030.jpg

I rarely buy new yarn, but once a year I head up to Omaha with my friends to a LYS that puts its entire stock on sale. This year I bought some laceweight for a scarf and the above Tosh Merino DK to make a honey cowl (ravelry link). I can’t wait to wind it and cast on.

Are you celebrating the new year with a new project?