1.31.2005
What a dud of a "snowstorm." I think Northern Virginia stole our snow. They always take everything from SWVA. ;)
I had a pretty good weekend. I got a good start on the practice shorts I'm knitting for Emma Kate. There's not too much more I can do until my 40' Addi Turbo circular needles come in at the yarn shop. I hope they call soon. This magic loop thing is going to be loads of fun, I'm sure. Anyway, when I get to the stopping point on the shorts, I'll go back to working on the apron top.
The yarn I ordered from LTK came on Saturday. It's pretty! A little more yellow than I thought, but that's okay. I think it will make a nice summery pair of shorts. Unfortunately, the apron top I am working on now probably won't match these shorts. I guess that means I'll have to make another one. Hee hee.
We're trying to get insurance for our house in Raleigh. Our regular policy was cancelled since we no longer live there full time, and we have to get a "vacant house" policy. Let me tell you, they put you over a barrel and rip you off every which way they can for this type of policy. I thought we were being good law-abiding citizens by getting all of our car stuff taken care of when we got to VA, but instead, it's put us in this bad position with our homeowner's insurance (our company found out we'd moved because we cancelled our auto insurance). A three month policy is roughly $550 and it only covers fire and wind damage to the house (in other words, our belongings aren't covered). If I could do it all over again I suppose I would fudge a little on the car stuff in VA just to buy some extra time. We had no idea this would happen, so for anyone thinking of moving away before your house sells, consider yourself warned. I hope the dang thing sells soon.
I had a pretty good weekend. I got a good start on the practice shorts I'm knitting for Emma Kate. There's not too much more I can do until my 40' Addi Turbo circular needles come in at the yarn shop. I hope they call soon. This magic loop thing is going to be loads of fun, I'm sure. Anyway, when I get to the stopping point on the shorts, I'll go back to working on the apron top.
The yarn I ordered from LTK came on Saturday. It's pretty! A little more yellow than I thought, but that's okay. I think it will make a nice summery pair of shorts. Unfortunately, the apron top I am working on now probably won't match these shorts. I guess that means I'll have to make another one. Hee hee.
We're trying to get insurance for our house in Raleigh. Our regular policy was cancelled since we no longer live there full time, and we have to get a "vacant house" policy. Let me tell you, they put you over a barrel and rip you off every which way they can for this type of policy. I thought we were being good law-abiding citizens by getting all of our car stuff taken care of when we got to VA, but instead, it's put us in this bad position with our homeowner's insurance (our company found out we'd moved because we cancelled our auto insurance). A three month policy is roughly $550 and it only covers fire and wind damage to the house (in other words, our belongings aren't covered). If I could do it all over again I suppose I would fudge a little on the car stuff in VA just to buy some extra time. We had no idea this would happen, so for anyone thinking of moving away before your house sells, consider yourself warned. I hope the dang thing sells soon.
1.28.2005
Here's a picture of EK I took last night. Chris had quite an audience while reading a bedtime story.
Happy 16 months, Emma Kate!
Boy, I'm glad it's Friday. We're supposed to get more bad weather, so my plans for this weekend are looking much like last weekend: spend time with EK and knit. I've got two projects on the needles right now - the apron top in a medium blue cotton for summer and a test pair of wool shorts.
Boy, I'm glad it's Friday. We're supposed to get more bad weather, so my plans for this weekend are looking much like last weekend: spend time with EK and knit. I've got two projects on the needles right now - the apron top in a medium blue cotton for summer and a test pair of wool shorts.
1.24.2005
Ugh. Today's my worst day with the sickness yet. I thought I was on the mend, but oh no, the stuffy nose, itchy/poppy ears, and inability to think straight have set in. Fun. I love taking my child to the doctor. Thank you, doctor's office, for making our whole family (minus Chris - how is he avoiding this?) sick.
I turned out another wool soaker this weekend. I'll post pictures when I get a chance. It fits her MUCH better - like it's supposed to - and some of the parts of the pattern that gave me trouble before went more smoothly this time. It also didn't take as long to do, since I didn't have to study books and internet videos each time I came upon a new technique! I think my next project will be the apron top from Little Turtle Knits. Either that, or I might make a practice pair of shorts so that I can get the kinks worked out with that pattern before I start the "real" pair with the LTK yarn I am waiting for. Not sure which. I am going to stop by the yarn store on the way home and pick up the needles I need for the apron top. Speaking of the yarn store, I went there for the first time on Saturday morning. It made me happy.
Chris spotted another new tooth in Emma Kate's mouth last night while he was brushing her teeth. This makes six. It's the lower left lateral incisor. Wonder when she will get some more on the right? She's getting sort of out of balance. ;)
I turned out another wool soaker this weekend. I'll post pictures when I get a chance. It fits her MUCH better - like it's supposed to - and some of the parts of the pattern that gave me trouble before went more smoothly this time. It also didn't take as long to do, since I didn't have to study books and internet videos each time I came upon a new technique! I think my next project will be the apron top from Little Turtle Knits. Either that, or I might make a practice pair of shorts so that I can get the kinks worked out with that pattern before I start the "real" pair with the LTK yarn I am waiting for. Not sure which. I am going to stop by the yarn store on the way home and pick up the needles I need for the apron top. Speaking of the yarn store, I went there for the first time on Saturday morning. It made me happy.
Chris spotted another new tooth in Emma Kate's mouth last night while he was brushing her teeth. This makes six. It's the lower left lateral incisor. Wonder when she will get some more on the right? She's getting sort of out of balance. ;)
1.21.2005
End of the day Friday. I'm hungry, I don't feel well, and I want to go home but I can't yet because I was late getting in this morning. The sickness in our house started early this week with Emma Kate. My dad was next, followed by my mom, and now me. So far it's just a yucky throat and general all-over weariness, but we'll see what tomorrow brings.
Chris has delivered two pieces of good news that I am mostly just trying to put out of my mind: 1) there's a second showing of our house going on right about now and 2) there's another showing tomorrow. I am trying hard not to get my hopes up about anything, because I don't want a repeat of Tuesday night.
I want to go home, see my girlie, and knit.
Chris has delivered two pieces of good news that I am mostly just trying to put out of my mind: 1) there's a second showing of our house going on right about now and 2) there's another showing tomorrow. I am trying hard not to get my hopes up about anything, because I don't want a repeat of Tuesday night.
I want to go home, see my girlie, and knit.
1.19.2005
Holy moly, it's snowing! It seems to be in fashion to complain about the cold, but I'm secretly glad winter is back.
Watch out world, I am a knitter!
I finished my first project last night - a wool soaker (cloth diaper cover) for Emma Kate. I'm pretty proud that I taught myself to do this entirely from books, websites, and asking a few questions here and there. It doesn't come naturally to me, but maybe now that I've worked through one project it will be easier. And for Huyen, if you're reading this - I had to learn to do single crochet to do the finishing around the leg holes!
Anyway, here is a picture. It is actually way too big. I had to rip it out completely and start over at least 5 times, so the last time I decided to go up to a size large from a medium. I thought I might not finish it for another year or so! It's not supposed to hang down to her knees, but I don't care, it's cute anyway and she can still wear it now and grow into it later.
I'm already eager to get something else onto the needles - I just have to choose between the two projects I already have planned in my head. It's quickly becoming an obsession...
I finished my first project last night - a wool soaker (cloth diaper cover) for Emma Kate. I'm pretty proud that I taught myself to do this entirely from books, websites, and asking a few questions here and there. It doesn't come naturally to me, but maybe now that I've worked through one project it will be easier. And for Huyen, if you're reading this - I had to learn to do single crochet to do the finishing around the leg holes!
Anyway, here is a picture. It is actually way too big. I had to rip it out completely and start over at least 5 times, so the last time I decided to go up to a size large from a medium. I thought I might not finish it for another year or so! It's not supposed to hang down to her knees, but I don't care, it's cute anyway and she can still wear it now and grow into it later.
I'm already eager to get something else onto the needles - I just have to choose between the two projects I already have planned in my head. It's quickly becoming an obsession...
1.18.2005
So much for that. The offer fell through, more or less because of cold feet related to the buyer's spouse being out of the country (for the next month, no less). OK, but what if we'd accepted the offer last night? Would we be $1000 richer today? I don't get it, and I'm disappointed and frustrated.
(cue Twilight Zone music)
OK, this is weird. Exactly two years ago today we made the offer to buy our house. Very strange, very strange.
Of course, 4 days after that (1/22/03), we found out Emma Kate was on her way. I can assure you that there will be no discoveries of new family members this week.
OK, this is weird. Exactly two years ago today we made the offer to buy our house. Very strange, very strange.
Of course, 4 days after that (1/22/03), we found out Emma Kate was on her way. I can assure you that there will be no discoveries of new family members this week.
Whoa. We got an offer on our house last night. We made a counteroffer, and we're waiting to hear something today. I'm experiencing a whole roller coaster ride of emotions... happy, sad, anxious, surprised (the house just went back on the market 9 days ago). More later. I'll update here when I know something.
1.05.2005
Okay, I don't want anyone to keel over from the shock or anything, but there are new pictures of Emma Kate in the gallery.
Chris and I are at the beginning of a search for a new digital camera. We're in no rush, as we're going to be saving for it for some time. I'd love a Nikon D70 but I don't know if a) we really need that much camera and b) I want to wait as long as it would take to save for it. The advanced point-and-shoot digital cameras mystify me. I need to do more research. Anyhow, it's exciting to think that we'll be moving on up from our old 1.3 megapixel Olympus.
I'm getting back into some of my hobbies after a break imposed by moving, starting a new job, and preparing for Christmas. I just started knitting again, and I am proud to say that after ripping out all of my work at least 5 times and restarting from scratch, I've finally got the hang of ribbing. I'm 2+ rows into the waistband of the LTK soaker. I will finish this thing and I will do it right, I promise.
I also shot a roll of film of Emma Kate the other day at the Penn Forest playground. Luckily I only had one shot left on the roll when she fell on the sidewalk in front of the sandbox and scratched up her nose and upper lip. Why are all of her injuries on her face? I hate that, I can't stand seeing my baby with blood on her face. Anyway, she's nearly healed now - amazing what a young, growing body can do. I haven't developed that roll or the ones from Christmas yet, but I will soon. If I get some good shots, I'm thinking of entering her into the Yo Baby cover contest. I'm not one of those parents who wants to get their kid into modeling, or whatever. Emma Kate LOVES the Yo Baby - she calls it "baby" and loves to look at the picture of the baby on the carton while she is eating it. It's because she is so taken with the baby that I thought it might be worth a try - you know, what would she think if she sat down for lunch and there was her own picture staring back at her from the Yo Baby carton? Hmmm, after looking over the contest rules, I guess I'd better get moving on the film developing.
Total change of topic. We're going to Raleigh this weekend (leaving Fri. night) to do yard work and re-list the house. I hope it all goes well. I may try to get a haircut while I'm down there, too. The haircut I've gotten here was fine, but I just don't like to give up familiar hairdressers (when I was in grad school in PA I would still get my hair cut whenever I was in Williamsburg).
I'm getting back into some of my hobbies after a break imposed by moving, starting a new job, and preparing for Christmas. I just started knitting again, and I am proud to say that after ripping out all of my work at least 5 times and restarting from scratch, I've finally got the hang of ribbing. I'm 2+ rows into the waistband of the LTK soaker. I will finish this thing and I will do it right, I promise.
I also shot a roll of film of Emma Kate the other day at the Penn Forest playground. Luckily I only had one shot left on the roll when she fell on the sidewalk in front of the sandbox and scratched up her nose and upper lip. Why are all of her injuries on her face? I hate that, I can't stand seeing my baby with blood on her face. Anyway, she's nearly healed now - amazing what a young, growing body can do. I haven't developed that roll or the ones from Christmas yet, but I will soon. If I get some good shots, I'm thinking of entering her into the Yo Baby cover contest. I'm not one of those parents who wants to get their kid into modeling, or whatever. Emma Kate LOVES the Yo Baby - she calls it "baby" and loves to look at the picture of the baby on the carton while she is eating it. It's because she is so taken with the baby that I thought it might be worth a try - you know, what would she think if she sat down for lunch and there was her own picture staring back at her from the Yo Baby carton? Hmmm, after looking over the contest rules, I guess I'd better get moving on the film developing.
Total change of topic. We're going to Raleigh this weekend (leaving Fri. night) to do yard work and re-list the house. I hope it all goes well. I may try to get a haircut while I'm down there, too. The haircut I've gotten here was fine, but I just don't like to give up familiar hairdressers (when I was in grad school in PA I would still get my hair cut whenever I was in Williamsburg).
