Quiet Week

So far we have done very little, this break. After Saturday's activity, I was exhausted and opted to spend Sunday in the apartment. The kids were generous and kind of offered to do the laundry, so I let them and, in the burst of energy that followed, organized the files for the taxes and did a decent amount of spinning and some knitting.

Monday saw a quick trip to Old Navy to outfit the rapidly growing Little Squid with new pants. Unfortunately they only had 2 pair in his size. Yup, only 2 pair. I guess a trip to the uptown Old Navy is in order before the week is out -- that or let my kid continue running around in high waters. Some plying and a smidge of knitting got done. Also some crochet as I finished the blanket my synagogue knitting group was working on.(I only joined and edged it, not one of those blocks is my handi-work. Our ladies do great work!)

Today was equally low key with only a solo trip a few blocks away to get eyes for the monster that my monster is sewing. More plying occurred and the berrilicious yarn is now skeined and drying from its bath. Pictures in the next day or two. I also started a rat-scarf.

Tomorrow, the museum is our goal and maybe lunch out as we dodge Maria. At some point during this week I may actually do the taxes now that they are organized. Meanwhile, the kids are making monsters and doing some small depletion of my fabric stash.

Meanwhile, on with our quiet week.

Cut to the Chase

This morning ...


This evening ...
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Good Friends, Good Knitting

We spent practically all day, yesterday, in the apartment while Squidette and her friends worked on their science fair project. Little Squid and I took a couple of short walks and accomplished a lot. Little Squid is leaving tomorrow for a three day- two night trip with his class. Luggage is packed and he is both excited and nervous. I'm just nervous because, hey, I'm his mom.

In the evening I ran out to hook up with an old college friend (the friendship is old, the friend is my age). She was leading her daughter's Girl Scout troupe on a tour of NYC. I joined up with them in Times Square and partly tagged along, partly played tour guide for a few hours with the party of four girls and three adults. It was great to reconnect after so many years. Neither of us had even met the other's kids even though we were at each other's weddings oh so many years ago. It is wonderful to find that we are still so compatible after so much time. Her daughter and friends are lovely young ladies and were a joy to meet. I will make an effort to get out to her place this summer and share my family with her.

In knitting news (this is a knitting blog, after all), I started my newest project.

A stole. 180 stitches of spindle spun, triple plied, cobweb weight silk on size zero needles. I have about an inch done. Pattern stitch is Old Shale with a 12 stitch repeat. Any guesses as to how long it will take if this is my main t.v. knitting and I only watch about an hour of t.v. a night? There is already about 2 hours worth of work in it and it is about an inch long. I promise that I have other projects to take on the trip to the wedding.

Today was the spring Mitzvah day at our synagogue. Squidette was once again my able assistant, winding yarn, knitting and teaching other tweens how to knit. Love that kid!
We brought home enough squares to complete a blanket and I will alternate my teeny-tiny lace knitting with crocheting the blanket together.

This will be a short work week due to the need to travel to the wedding. I try not to take the kids out of school but this is a special and once in a lifetime occassion. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. My brother is getting married!!! Go Josh and Jaye!!!

It's Stephanie's Fault!

On Wednesday's I make sure to leave work by 4:15 so that I can pick up Squidette from her art club. Today I was delayed and it turned out to be a good thing. Since, as I mentioned yesterday, I can not make it to the Yarn Harlot event, I took a load of hats from school to Knitty City to stand in for me. Most of these hats, I admit, were supposed to be chemo caps but they never made it into the mail for that project. Hey, someone will get good use out of them.

As Squidette and I walked into Knitty City who should we meet but Stephanie herself! She took the hats from us and added them to the display in the shop window. Dope that I am, I missed a chance to get a picture of her -- forgetting that my camera is now an almost permanent resident of my knitting bag. Once I remembered, she was gone but I did get a shot of the window.I also got this ...six skeins of Merinos Otto Shadow and two more shawl pins hair sticks. The yarn is the exact shade of purple that I wanted for a scarf and hat to match my new winter coat.

And just for the smile -- my cleaning lady seems to think that the new Squid belong here.We agree!

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

Um ... take the C train? (Any one out there not know the punch line?)

Last night started the second half of our subscription season at Carnegie Hall. On the program, the New World Symphony with guest cellist, Yo Yo Ma. This concert was a lot of fun for a number of reasons.

First, I have never knowingly heard any of the pieces that were performed so they all held my attention.

Second, watching Yo Yo Ma perform was just amazing. Last year we saw a number of young soloists and I was amazed at the differences in performance styles. Yo Yo Ma kept me amazed and guessing throughout the performance.

Third, the bagels. Yup, the bagels. The piece that Yo Yo Ma performed was Shostakovitch's Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op 126. The program notes for this piece speak about a part of the final movement in the following terms: "... Next comes a scherzo, a kind of jazz dance based on an Odessa street cry: "Bagels, buy our bagels ..."" So when Yo Yo Ma and the conductor came out for their bows holding bagels, half the audience burst in to laughter ... the other half was just confused. I am so glad that I read the program notes before the piece so that I got the joke.

We were also honored with a pre-intermission encore which I have never witnessed before. Way cool. Oh, and the kids were home ... it was an adult evening out. We are nice parents but not that nice. Both kids prefer opera to a straight instrumental concert.

***

On a side note, if anyone was planning on donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Squidette recently completed a Math-a-thon and has a donation page up here. She already held up politely asked and received pledges from most of her aunts and uncles so her school obligations are now fulfilled. This is not one of those big blog-drives ala' the Yarn Harlot, just a small PSA. No obligations, no goals. Just, if you already were planning on donating for some strange reason then here is a link to do it through. Really, I'll let you know when I really need your help. I like this organization and support it myself. 'Nuf said.

Tune in tomorrow for the latest Squirrel story. It's short, sweet and telling of the time we live in. And there are pictures!

Stay-at-home Saturday

Look! Two finished objects (three if you count each sock separately.)

Monkey for and on Squidette's feet.

A fun fur hat for Kate's project.

A glam shot of the ever lengthening Squidette.

And proof that she can no longer be used as a tool for getting cans off the top shelf with our risk of concussion. Papa Squid may have to start using the step ladder.
New on the needles ... mittens for the youngest sibling and another fun fur hat.