Sorry for the delay

School started, soccer started, football started, my DH started a new, slightly later schedule, etc, etc. Life has been hectic, hence no time to post.

Big non-knitting item of note: I wanted to get Ayanna something that would help her walk. Malik had one when he was little:


I couldn't really call around to see if anyone had one, because how do you ask for a "Walker" on the phone without someone thinking of the kind of thing a child sits in and walks? Monday when I dropped her off at daycare, they had one. I made sure she saw it so she could play with it. So, last week one day after work we went to Toys R Us and got her this. She loves it!!





Since I have been gone, I have been knitting.

For my birthday, I got a $50 gift certificate to a LYS. I got the gift cert on Saturday, September 9. The LYS is really close to my church, so I looked through all my patterns and most of my magazines on Saturday night and Sunday morning hoping to find a sweater for my dad. I found nothing. Looked at the LYS for a pattern for him - nothing. Then I got to work Monday morning, Knitty showed up in my in box with a perfect pattern - Avast! I was soo excited!! I went to the LYS at my lunch and spent the whole g.c. plus an additonal $6 to get the required amount of Bartlett Yarns. I really like working with this yarn. It smells like wool. It has some lanolin still in it. Anyway, I cast on for the cable on...um...maybe the 12th. I finished the cable on the bottom and up a couple of inches. I had to stop there, because I hand made the ball of yarn out of a hank. I hate doing that, so Sunday I will take the remaining hanks to the LYS for winding. Then I will be on my way.

I am done with the body of Malik's top down sweater from the pound of yarn I got for $7.50. I started it on September 10! - However, it doesn't fit Malik very well (which I thought maybe), so it is now for DeAndre'. Now just the sleeves.

I have tried to post this a few times, and always get interrupted.

Here you go, finally!

Harlot, et al.

Where to begin??? When you have this much to share, it becomes a bit overwhelming.

Yarn Harlot came to visit Portland Wednesday. My DH and children came. We were at Powell's on Hawthorne. Powells is a local bookstore chain. They have about 5-10 stores. When she was here last year, she was in the main store. MUCH MORE ROOM THERE!!! I went to see Debbie Stoller at the Hawthorne Powells a few months ago, and I guess since there was chairs to spare for her, the powers that be at Powells decided that Harlog would be an equivalent number of knitters. We filled the bigger room last year, so they put us in a smaller room this year. Good thinking people. Much more reviews on the following blogs:

I saw Deb, Pat, Chrissy Cheri and Kelley from Knit Picks although they didn’t see me. In my blog surfing (is that a word?) I also read of these other people who went. Msubulldog, Amanda, Katrina, Lori, bipurlerdisorder

When I read Harlot's Seattle review, I learned about "an old adage that claims that if an expert knitter places knitting needles in a babys hands, the child will be clever at knitting." So, of course, I made sure that my daughter got the same treatment. See?

Apparently, while my DH and children were wandering the store wishing I didn't have to go listen to some knitter talk, someone walked up to my husband and said "you are Jenni's husband" or something to that effect. Keep in mind that my blog is the furthest thing from DH's mind. So when he found out that people actually read it, he was a bit (hell, I don't even know what word to use here). Anyway, if that person could leave me a comment or something, I'd like to know who you are.

Now to the pictures (forgive me for the blurriness):


You can't really see her in this picture, but against the bookshelf, with the light green sweater on, is Kelley from Knit Picks.

Blogging the blogger blogging:






My soon-to-be expert knitter:






End of Harlot.

I finished this while waiting for her to start. It is the first card holder for the boys for Chirstmas. After I finished, I started on the second one. I will finish it today. I have maybe five more rows of 13 stitch garter stitch.



We got home from Harlot at 9:30. This also happened to be the first day of school, and I had a very hectic day of running around dropping off kids, going to work for a bit, and picking kids back up. Then run, run, some more.

I bought buttons yesterday for my sweater. It needs to be blocked. I wove in all ends. This is the second project I cast on for over 4 years ago. It will be done hopefully this weekend! This picture was taken before I was done with the weaving, and after we came back from Harlot. Pay no attention to the neck up. I told my DH to cut my face off, but...



Another reason I was so tired in that picture is because after we got home at 9:30, we did an impromptu birthday. Harlot came town on my birthday. When we got home, I got cake


the ding dong was all my DH could pull off with everything else that was going on. It was sweet.


These are my gifts. I collect these cows. The one on the left is Liberty Cow and the one on the right is Cowlumbus.







State Fair update. I can't possibly tell you how frustrating yesterday was. During my lunch hour I had to drive to the store where I could pick up my fair entries. I was under the impression that they were going to be there from 12:30 - 6 just like they were on drop off day. I drove to the store, and they weren't there. Then I find out that they were only there from 2-6. I had to go back out there after work. Hello, I have a husband and children to pick up! I leave work at 5 and spend over 15 MINUTES in the parking garage just trying to get out! I get to the store at 5:57! Then I have to pick up the kids and the husband. Much more frustrating in person.

State Fair Knit Along

Well, we went to the fair yesterday. I just checked my camera. Yesterday morning I emptied all my pictures onto the computer so that I could have PLENTY of room for all the new pictures I was going to take. The pictures on there now are old pics! WTF!! How do you undelete only some of the pictures you previously deleted?? Where are the pictures I actually took???

It is okay, my sister came with her camera, and we are okay for this post.

It took quite a long time to find the building that housed the textile entries. Finally, "there it is!" We trekked over there after spending an hour driving down to Salem and another hour in an endless line to park! We walked into this HUGE building with quilts hanging all around the whole room! (Insert picture here that I took, but do not get to show you.) I found the cases where the knitted items were displayed. I had warning from another blogger in the knit a long (can't remember who - I think it was the middle of last week) who had to walk around the display cases three times before she found her items. However, knowing this, it still took me and the boys three go arounds before we found my two items. The first one we found was the best find. My pink and white heart baby blanket took BLUE RIBBON (first place).







Only a mere two cabinets over, was my purple and blue baby sweater - no prize attached.



Oh well, one is better than none. I did, however, expect it to be the other way around. The blanket had visible errors, and the sweater had none. I realize that it might be just the odds, maybe there weren't many entries in the baby blanket category, so I won by default - I don't care - I am soooo proud!!! Now we have to go get a case to display my ribbon in.

And just cause my sister was the one taking pictures, here is one of the girl:

Just when you think it is over...

We got a phone call from the CSD lady yesterday. I followed up today via email. This is her reply to that email:

Thank you for your prompt reply by email. I am glad to hear that your little one is doing well. I will be closing this case as unfounded although it is concerning that your child had a prior skull fracture. Please continue caring for your child as you have been although for safety planning purposes please make sure Ayanna is never left unsupervised by an adult. Leaving a baby in care of two other children even momentarily is not the wisest thing to do and I know your mother will make sure this situation does not repeat itself.

I thought this was over, but, I guess not.

I am about half way done with sleeve number two. I am still stuck on Kepler.

GUESS WHAT?!?!

I finished sleeve #1 of the blue sweater and started sleeve #2!!! I might actually be able to finish it in time!!! Especially on the drive down and back to Salem for the State Fair. However, (of course) I did something wrong on Kepler, so I will have to rip back a little bit to fix it before I can finish it. I seamed up both sides of the body and both sleeves. I have to make this one repair, then add the sleeves, and do the I-cord neck and then I AM DONE!!! Still might have two sweaters for my birthday. T-10 days and counting!!

I found a perfect Christmas present for the boys!! I found a pattern for a yugioh card holder. I do not own any size 5 dpn, but I cast on for the bottom and finished both bottoms. I will get a set of dpn this weekend, and will have a carry-around-with-me project. However, talk about quick, this project might take an hour each! I am even using stash yarn that I got at a swap.

Let's see... Projects OTN:

Fair Isle vest (worked on this some Saturday while DH was golfing)
Fair Isle sweater for Ayanna (stalled)
Christmas Stockings (stalled - intend to pick up after my bday)
Hedera socks - I am in the leg of sock #1

That might be all!

I will have to start one other Christmas present soon, but I don't know for who, so I don't know what.

Good news

Malik had his follow-up appointment Monday with his surgeon. While we were at the hospital on Thursday, they mentioned the surgeon's name. She is a neurosurgeon, and since Ayanna's injury was to her head, it was mentioned that they might have her consult. So, when we went to see her on Monday, I thought I'd ask her. My biggest question was, if she had a previous fracture, wouldn't there be some outward sign? It was a hypothetical question. However, when I asked, the dr. said let's go look at her scans. WOW! Ain't technology grand!?! So, we went into another room, and she typed in Ayanna's name and up popped her scans. She then looked them over and said what she saw was consistent with the fall I described. She said if I wanted, I could tell whoever that they could call her and she would tell them they were crazy (my words - not hers).

Then, yesterday, at Ayanna's follow-up with her Primary Care (whom I LOVE), she told me that the CSD specialist said there is no case!!!

Yeah - Crisis averted!!!

Thanks for the good wishes and thoughts!

SHE IS FINE

That is the first thing you need to know. Ayanna had a bit of a spill at my mom's house on Thursday. We took her to the Emergency Room. They thought she had a previous fracture (I think they still think that, but I am not sure). For this, instead of going home near noon (as would have probably happened), we got to stay ALL DAY!! We actually got lucky as they promised us that it would be overnight at a minimum. However, there has been a file opened with the Child Abuse Prevention agency (insert your acronym of choice here). She has a follow-up appointment with her primary care physician tomorrow.

ANYWAY!!!

Look what I want to show you!!!

I bought a POUND of wool from a local store (not a LYS, per se). It is 1100 yards!! Regular price is $10!!! I got it on sale for $7.50!!! Knit Picks price for the same yardage would be $17.50! Boy did I score!!! I started knitting on it right away, but ended up pulling it all out. I am trying to figure out if I can make two sweaters from this. The yardage is really close, and I am very hopeful!


My birthday is in two weeks and two days. For this event, I might be able to get TWO sweaters for my birthday. I have finished knitting Kepler and blocking and weaving in the ends AND seamed up both sleeves. This is most definately do-able by my b-day! However, my WIP from hell - guess what??? I finished the body!!! I still have both sleeves, and the button bands, but I started one sleeve, and I have hope that in 2 weeks I can have two new sweaters. The sweater is a top-down cardigan that I have had OTN for, like, 5 years! My second project! Wish me luck!

HELLO, THERE!!!

Sorry it has been so long!

I have been busy at work (a very nice change) and haven't had time here. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my DH keeps moving things around so I am never able to access the computer.

So, here goes!

I have been knitting. I finished the baby blanket and sent my form off to the Fair people. They called me to ask if I was in the "Open" group, or the "master" group. I copped out and chose the Open group.






I finished sleeve #2 of the Kepler sweater on the bus today. Now just the back to go! (I don't have pics of that, yet.)

Ayanna stood up on her own today. Of course, she was at my dad's and I didn't see it!

She has a new favorite toy - stackers.



She also is teething, so she has been quite crabby at night lately.

My first day of work they asked me if I could work full-time instead as someone here gave thier two weeks notice. So, yesterday was my last Monday off. I was really looking forward to it, but more hours = more money, so I will make due.

PICTURES:


For my last Monday off, we met Daddy for lunch at Keppler Fountain.


The boys and Ayanna having fun


I think her biggest problem was the rocks under her feet. However, the water was cold.

Friday Eve

Well, I have 31 hours left working here. I don't know what kind of environment my next job will have in terms of letting me go online. Approximately 99% of my posts have been made while I was at work. I will have Monday's off, so I will have time to go online while at home, but I don't know the frequency I will be able to post. Just a warning.

OKC:

I am almost finished with the first white stripe of the baby blanket (don't have it with me, so no pic). I finished the first sleeve of Kepler last night (don't have it with me, so no pic). I couldn't find the cable for the second sleeve (I didn't look in my bedroom), so I started the back (or the front, if I so choose, I guess). I haven't finished picking up stitches across, so no progress on it.

I'll try to post a pic of some Kepler progress later today.

Long lost relatives

Just thought I'd post about our dinner last night. We went to Old Spaghetti Factory and shared pics (none of which I have) and chatted. Bill said he comes into town about 2-3 times a year, so I am sure we will be able to do this again.


Malik, DeAndre' and my sister's boyfriend Terrance


My brother, Danny. My aunt, Peggy. Her son, Tony


Marcus feeding Ayanna some ice cream


All who came - Marcus, me, Ayanna, Peggy, DeAndre', Malik, Bill, Tony, Theresa (my sister) and Danny.

The relationship is as follows: Bill and Peggy are cousins. Thier fathers were brothers. We have never met because my grandfather moved from Ohio in the late 50's and we have never been back. Bill has been there all of his life (as far as I know).

Forgot a title

I almost finished sleeve number 1 of Kepler. I found some size 7 circulars, so I transferred the baby blanket to those so I could actually work on it. I am on the beginning of the heart chart for row 2 of 4.

Birthday party yesterday for DeAndre's friend from school. It was at the park so we packed up the family and went.

Ayanna had fun (not really) in the swing.




Maisy REALLY had fun!!


Tonight we have a get-together with a long-lost relative. (Not really, but most of us have never met him.)

This is my last week at this job. As I am typing this, a girl is being interviewed. I had nothing to do with this. I overheard something about it, then something "appeared" on the calendar, then she came. One reason why I don't want to work here, anymore. I am always competely left out.

My DH (not really) made an interesting comment this weekend. We were watching the Perfect Man with Chris Noth and Heather Locklear (I don't have any idea why he bought this movie for me, but it was cute, and we watched it on Saturday morning). The girl in the story is a blogger. So, often, you could see her blogging. He said "that is neat." I said, "what, blogging?" "yeah." "you mean, like me?" "yeah, but you don't do it very often." "I do it a couple of times a week." "Oh." (I know I fudged the amount a bit, but I was annoyed that he doesn't even know this about his wife!)

Where to start

Well, I accepted a new job! I will get a little more $$ hourly, but will have Mondays off, so I get to stay home with the kids on Mondays! I start on July 25th.

I finished the front, back and one sleeve cable for Kepler. I cast on for the second sleeve today. I know this cable by heart, and only check the chart because I am paranoid. However, I am sooo anxious to knit on the body! I was going to start the sleeve this morning on the bus, but I didn't have a crochet hook on me to pick up stitches from. So, I cast on for sleeve #2.


This is sleeve cable #1 and what I have so far for sleeve #2.

I started the white stripe on the baby blanket, but don't work on that all that much mostly because I have the project on straight needles because I didn't have any handy #7 needles when I cast on.

The whole thing (sort of scrunched togehter)


A better shot of the detail.

The other day, while I was on the bus knitting on cable for sleeve #1, a lady sat down next to me, and we got to talking about knitting and such. She belongs to a group that I am going to check out. It is (sort of) close to home, and only meets one Sunday a month. Sunday afternoon happens to be the best time of the week for me. I have little or no activities with the kids. So - Sunday afternoon - perfect. Once per month - perfect. I will check it out the end of this month. Now, I just hope I like the people.

Here are some pre-op pics of Malik:

He had already had some "happy juice." It tasted like cough syrup, but after it started to kick in, he couldn't remember much.



He is about 98%. We went for a follow-up on Tuesday, and he got a release as of next Monday to be at full activity. His stitches or whatever fit very nicely under a standard size bandage.

Lots of stuff

First - Malik is doing okay. The surgery was short, as promised. After he got out of recovery, he slept most of the afternoon. Then it took him awhile to actually hold down a conversation. He had to lay flat all day Monday. Before he could be released on Tuesday, he had to walk. That took a little while, but mostly because after lying flat all day Monday, his body didn't really want to cooperate. He now has a couple of prescriptions, but that should be done in a couple of days. We got home about 3 on Tuesday. He will be home all day today, Thurs, Fri and Sat. We might go to church on Sunday - DeAndre' has to go, but one of us could stay home with Malik if he isn't up to it. Next week, Marcus and I have to both work, so he will go to Dad's a couple of days, and Mom's a couple of other days. After that, he should be able to be 100%. The doctor took a picture during surgery using her microscope camera. I am not one for surgery pictures, and this one is okay, however, if you think your stomach won't be able to handle it, I will post it at the very end of this post, so don't look if you don't want to.

Knitting at the hospital wasn't quite as productive as I had hoped. I brought 4 projects. I really wanted to work on Marcus' vest, since I don't get that much time to work on that. I brought the vest and extra yarn in case I got to a point that I needed more. However, I forgot the chart!!! No knitting on that - damn! I brought the baby blanket from Knitty Gritty, but forgot the chart!!! I thought the fact that the hospital has internet would help, but one boy was on the computer for HOURS - they have two, but the other one wouldn't connect for some reason. They don't have printers hooked up to them, so I had to draw the chart by hand. Not fun! I brought the Christmas stocking and the cable band to Kepler, but since I really wanted to work on the vest, I only brought the project and no more yarn. These projects ended up being the only ones I could work on, but in both cases I could only go so far. I finished as much of the Christmas stocking as I could and then wove in all the ends - there were quite a few. I finished the 17" cable band for the back of Kepler, and cast on for the front one, but then had to stop cause I didn't have any more yarn. I worked on the baby blanket a little bit. A lot of knitting, but not quite what I had envisioned.

The camera is at home still unpacked, so I can't take pictures right now. Hopefully, I can do that tomorrow!

The two interviews I had last week - one I didn't get the job, the other, I have a second interview this morning. Good wishes!

I thought there was something else I wanted to post, but... (maybe later)

Here comes the picture, click away if you want. No other content to follow. (I don't know how to make a link so you could click and this wouldn't be on my page at all. For those that know how to do this, let me know, please.)







This picture is HUGELY magnified. The part I put the 'dotted line' on is what they cut. It is fatty tissue that is anchoring the spinal cord down.

Wednesday

As I mentioned in a previous post, Malik is having surgery on his spine on Monday. Links related to this surgery are following, if anyone cares.
http://www.pullthrough.org/ptnn13.html
http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/tethered.asp?ShowMenu=false&ShowPrint=false

Yesterday, the boys went to John Casablanca, and they got called back for tonight. I'm not really sure what this means. They probably want money - which they won't be getting from me. They are REAL excited! I will keep you posted on that.

In case I don't post tomorrow or Friday, I definately won't be posting Monday or Tuesday. I don't know about Saturday or Sunday, but that is a rare occurance.

I will post for sure late next week. Maybe I will have some news about a new job.

Happy Anniversary to me!

Well, actually, to us, and, actually, tomorrow, not today. (Is that enough commas?) 3 years.

I unexpectedly received a little bit of money out of the blue last week. Our anniversary is tomorrow so I decided we both needed gifts. Now, I realize that he is supposed to buy for me, but neither of us would have gotten any gifts if it weren't for this surprise money, so I decided to buy something for him and something for me. So I promptly made two purchases. The first was to GI Joe's. My DH has never had any golf shoes. He will have these as soon as they arrive - should have already been here, but soon (I hope).

The second purchase was (of course) to KnitPicks. It came today.

5 skeins each Wool of the Andes: red, cloud and evergreen. These will be Christmas stockings for Christmas.


3 balls each of Pallette in red and black. Socks


2 hanks of Shadow lace weight in color Jewels for an as yet undetermined shawl.

I just realized that this was detrimental to my SoSkal, but the Christmas stockings were preplanned and an exception, so I excuse myself of that, the rest was to add up to $40 for free shipping, plus I didn't really spend my money, right? Ok, justification, over.

I have progress on my lace scarf for the Amazing Lace.


This is actually not the "right" side, but between taking forever to scan and even longer to upload, this is all you get. It needs to be blocked desprately, though, so it is not a good pic, anyway. I needs to be straight at the bottom, not angled like it is, so... At least you can see the progress.

Daycare has people come in and take pictures of the kids every year. I got Ayanna's pictures back yesterday. These pictures are $12.50 per sheet, and we just had her pics done, so we won't pay for any of these except the class picture, but... they are scanned!




I am currently seeking new employment. I have had two interviews so far this week. Both of them went well. One is a lot more money, but I don't actually think I am qualified for it, so we will see. The other one is more money AND less hours. Think good thoughts.