My new bud Annie

Today was a load of fun! I got to meet Annie Modesitt and take her Cables and Lace class at my LYS, The Whole Nine Yarns. It turned out to be more of a Cables and Combo knitting class because she got a little confused about what she was supposed to be teaching. And you know what? She's great no matter what she's supposed to be teaching! She tells some delightfullly corny jokes while she's teaching and really goes out of her way to make everyone feel comfortable. She's also great about helping those who have difficulties while knitting.

It was fun watching all the people who had never knit in Combination style before. Just seeing all the lightbulbs go off over their heads was great. That part of the class wasn't new to me since that was the way that I learned how to knit, but I sure did get a kick out of other people learning it.

The Cables part was fantastic. She tells a fun semi-risque fairytale story to help you remember how to do the whole "cabling without a needle" thing. You could get a little carried away with that story and turn it into cabling porn really easily. :)

She was a joy to meet and a great teacher. I encourage everyone who gets a chance to go and meet her and take one of her classes. She even graciously stood still for a picture with me too.

I didn't think about it before I went out of the house, but this is the same shirt that I was wearing when I got to meet Alton Brown. This blouse sure does get around, doesn't it?

Oh, and guess what? I have my first spinning wheel class tomorrow. Woohoo! Can't wait!

Here it comes

Someone remind me why I wanted another child? Especially one that's precocious and hard-headed stubborn?

Remember yesterday's incident of the diaper and shorts coming off? Yep, happened again. Sure sign of almost being ready for potty training. I think he's more ready than I am.

I dread this process. Not just the usual potty training, I'm ready for that. But I am not ready for this stubborn child to dig his heels in and decide that he doesn't want to do it just because I want him to. Also, communication is not all there yet. I don't think I have a choice at this point though, especially if he keeps taking his pants and diapers off because he doesn't like the feel of being wet. Wanna see the Youngest in action?


To make it worse though, not only did he pee on the floor today, but see that cube there in the background? He peed right through that little door there on top of a whole bunch of toys that were stored away underneath it. Fun huh? Pray for me.



Knitting news to come tomorrow.

More Trials From The Two Year Old

Never, ever turn your back. That's my new mantra. I say it over and over, but it doesn't seem to seep in to my foggy little brain.

Never Turn Your Back
Never Turn Your Back
Never Turn Your, Oh Crap!

Today was one of those days. The morning and early afternoon went well (except for finding a knitting mistake and ripping back 3 times), but late afternoon/early evening? Um, not so well.

Guess what I did, twice? Yep. Turned my back. What did it get me?

First I caught the Youngest finger painting on the living room rug with a big handful of sour cream from his early supper which consisted of quesadillas and the before mentioned sour cream. He also decided that his shorts and legs would look much better coated in sour cream too. I caught him before he could do more damage.

Second was a double whammy. The living room was trashed in about 10 minutes. During that time he also decided that he needed to be loose and free. So off came the shorts and diaper and he was scampering all about his clueless brother who was engrossed in a nice 60s Batman movie. He was also climbing on the back of the couch and rolling down onto the seat section of it. Destruction and chaos reigned supreme all around the Eldest and he didn't even notice. Usually he's my alarm system since he's my "by the book" child, but not so much today, obviously.

Where was I during the incidents? Doing laundry during the first, and spray painting a project for the Eldest for school during the second. So I have some good excuses, don't I? Well, don't I?

I really wish I had taken a picture of the sour cream incident for you, but I was in panic clean up mode and didn't think of it. I could take a pic of the trashed living room, but I'd rather not embarrass myself at this point. I don't think I can take much more tonight. :)

Lillian Tank Progress

Progress on the Lillian tank, I'm about 40% of the way through. It's taking me a little longer than normal since I'm having to put in decreases as I go up since I'm making the bottom of the tank in the medium size and the small on the top. Oh do I wish I could say I had to do the opposite! I've got to decrease 14 sts. So I'm doing two sets of decreases on each side on row 13 for each of the last three repeats and I'll sandwich in one more as I get to the ribbing. On one side it's working fine and the other it's playing merry hell with the lace pattern. I'm fudging it and carrying on though. Thank goodness I'm not a perfectionist. I will be the only one that will ever notice the imperfection.

I started this with a "new for me" cast on, the Twisted German Cast On. This is like the Long tail, but is more elastic and good with the ribbing at the bottom of the tank. theknitwitch on Youtube has a great video on how to do it. I, however, really suck at either of these cast ons because I can't seem to guesstimate how much yarn it will take to make it work. One day maybe I'll figure it out.



Heh. See that orange thing at the bottom right of the pic? Yeah, my kids have been there again. It's a pumpkin stencil that someone dug out of the toy box and it mysteriously appeared on my desk. Imagine that. See that ziplock bag? Yep, my knitting tool kit. One day I will either make or buy me a cute little bag to replace it, but for now, it'll do.