Preview

I've been home with the kids for the past week, but Phil wasn't able to get off work, so today was our family's first real vacation day. We were lucky enough to be invited to spend the day with a lovely friend of ours at her cottage, and it was just the perfect way to begin the process of really, truly winding down, you know?

Some of us worked on our tans...


Some of us communed with Nature...


And some of us became reacquainted with a trusted, dear friend...



What a perfect day. If the next two weeks can be as lovely as today, we're in for a fabulous vacation indeed.

Happy Knitting, Everyone!

A little bit random

The kids and I are back from our little trip. I think I'm still suffering from the after-effects of 2 days of solo-parenting and screwed up sleeping arrangements, to say nothing of the heat wave we've been enduring lately (kinda wish I'd been more specific when I wished for "heat" back in June...), so much so that the prospect of writing a blog post has me all frazzled this morning. All I know is that I need to write *something*, because if I don't you'll leave and never visit this corner of blogland again, ever. And that would be sad. For me.

Yeah, I think I need another coffee.

Here we go!

1. The beach.

While at my Dad's we went to the beach. Sort of. I mean, I suppose it's technically a beach, because there was water and sand... But it was on a lake, and it was really windy, and there was lots of seaweed (lakeweed?) along the shore. There was a kid there whose only job was to shovel the seaweed (lakeweed?) into a wheelbarrow and dump it.... somewhere. Probably back in the water.


The kids were mildly grossed out by the seaweed (lakeweed?), Émilie more so than Maxime, I think. I put on a brave face and went out into the water with them. I may or may not have adorned myself with seaweed (lakeweed?) and pretended to be a creature from the black lagoon. Good times.

2. The garden

Phil took excellent care of the garden while I was away. Still no vegetables yet, but there are blooms and buds like crazy, so it's only a matter of time now. Remind me how anxious I was for the vegetables to arrive when I'm up to my eyeballs in zucchini and tomatoes, OK?


Yes, I know this is a Hosta plant. Innit pretty?

3. Catching up.

I'm falling behind on my QALs (that'd be the same thing as a KAL, only for quilts). Yesterday afternoon the awesome in-laws took the kids off my hands for a few hours, and I was able to get a little sewing done. Lori didn't mind, as long as she could participate.


4. Knitting

I think my stash post has some of y'all worried that I've lost my knitting mojo. Rest assured, I haven't. I've been knitting, I promise. My knitting just isn't really blogable, that's all. I mean... I've got a second sleeve. It looks exactly like the first sleeve. Ooooh, Aaaaah... exciting.

I find I'm looking forward to my next project though, so that's something, right?

Have a great weekend, Everyone!

A Gentle Reminder

Dear Phil,

The kids and I are about to set out for our annual trip to see Nanny and Bumpy (aka the grandparents). I know you're devastated about having the house to yourself for 2 whole days. The silence, the emptiness... I realize it's giving you the chills just thinking about it.

You're a strong man, a good father. I know you'll muddle through somehow. I believe in you, sweetie.

Your loving wife,

Tara

p.s.: don't forget to water the garden!!!




Happy Knitting, Everyone!

The Stash

Lately I’ve been thinking about stash quite a bit. THE stash, MY stash, Stash as a concept, an idea, a constantly evolving… you know… thing in any dedicated maker’s life.

Here’s the thing: over the years, I’ve accumulated a lot of yarn, or what I perceive as being a lot of yarn, anyway. And for the most part, it hasn’t really bothered me. I’ve been perfectly comfortable with my growing stash because, hey, I’m a grownup, it’s my money, I can spend it on whatever I want, and buying yarn makes me happy (but doesn’t make anyone else unhappy). Knitting was what I DID. Of COURSE I needed yarn! Like… duh.

Now that I’ve started branching out into sewing, expanding my crafting horizons, as it were (and thus, have begun cultivating a wee fabric stash), the stash has been… well… bothering me. Sort of. A bit.

It’s just that it’s THERE all the time, you know? Like an ex-boyfriend (or girlfriend!) that you still have to room with. Constantly reminding me that I *used* to have eyes only for knitting. I *used* to get such a rush out of yarn, all kinds of yarn. I *used* to be a Knitter.

So yeah… my stash is giving me a wicked case of the guilts. I mean… I’ve got yarn in the stash that I bought in 2006! I was OK with that when all I did was knit, confident in the delusion knowledge that I’d get to it someday. But now? Now it’s just wigging me out.

Where do we go from here, my darling stash? How can I make it right between us once more? Would you cut me some slack if I brought you some new yarn? How about some shiny laceweight? Or sock yarn? I know how much you love sock yarn.

Well, think it over. I’ll be sewing while you make up your mind.

Wordless Weekend Wrap-up

How was your weekend? Mine looked like this:






Happy Summer, Everyone!

Two words

I wasn't supposed to work today. I usually get Fridays off during the summer, but due to a bunch of stuff that couldn't be helped this week, I really needed to go into the office.

It's been a tiring week, so this morning, when the Evil Peaceful Slumber Destroyer alarm clock rang, to say I didn't feel like going in would be like saying Lindsay Lohan might have some personal issues: big fat DUH.

I offered myself a compromise: I'd go in that morning, see if there were fires that needed putting out, and if it was feasible, I'd take the afternoon off.

Turns out most of the staff had taken today off, and things were pretty quiet, so at noon I packed everything up and headed home.

Since the kiddos were already taken care of for the day, I decided a little Tara-time (of the making variety) was in order!

I did a little sewing while listening to the Billboard Top 100 for 1983 (and can I just say? 1983 was the best year EVER! SO many good tunes...)

I had a glass of Rosé...

All under the semi watchful eye of Miss Lori.


So how was my afternoon? Two words: Buh-Liss.

Happy Sewing, Everyone!

Indulgence

Dear Husband Phil is on a business trip this week, and while he's been away I've been indulging in a rare pleasure.


Once the kids are safely tucked in their beds, I've been curling up with a cuppa Jasmine tea, my cat, and my latest Must Read series*. And it's been glorious. I used to be a voracious reader, but along the way, reading seems to have become some kind of a guilty pleasure for me, something I sometimes feel selfish for indulging in when there are people (big and small) around me that need taking care of.

Not so this week, my friends. There's been no knitting, no sewing, no making of any kind. Just tea and the peaceful sound of pages turning.

As far as indulgences go, I think that's pretty reasonable, don't you?

Happy Reading, Everyone!

* Someone will ask, so I'll just 'fess up to being a new fan of the Southern Vampire Mysteries books (aka the Sookie Stackhouse novels, that spawned the show True Blood). The "I Have Two Masters' Pass the James Joyce" in me is a bit ashamed, but the Dracula/Buffy/Twilight fan in me is in Vampire Fiction Heaven!

Summertime

When I was growing up, summer meant long days spent swimming, reading, exploring, backyard camping... No obligations, no school, just endless days and nights stretching out before me, full of possibility and promise.

Not so anymore, of course. When you're a parent, summer takes on different meaning entirely (at least, it does if you're a parent with a day job). Gone are the lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer! School (aka where the kids go while you're at work) is OUT, and you've got to figure out what to do with those kids!

In many respects, summer is our busiest, most stressful time of the year. That's why I'm always amazed when, despite the craziness and occasional bout of wanting to rip my hair out... stuff gets made.

Fresh, glorious strawberries get transformed into jam...


Yarn is looped over and over and, ever so slowly, and turned into the makings of a cardigan...


And fabric gets cut and sewn into quilt blocks...


Endless promise and possibility indeed.

Happy Making, Everyone!