A big thank you to Great Grandma

It is like a holiday in and of itself. The last few years my grandmother has sent Hess truck to Ez which usually arrives right after the holidays. And exactly long enough past them to be extra special. And of course the present is the year's Hess truck, which is always a big hit and remains so for the entire year. (and the old ones are still as loved as the new ones)

Today is Hess day here at the house. I wonder if we need a cake? LOL

A little reminder for myself

Intarsia How-to video

Mommy's little problem

So I have this weakness for sticks. And we had a wind storm here last night followed by the unintentional coincidence of a trip to the park this morning. See what Mommy brought home? Yep 2 giant tree branches and the trunk of a chopped down neighbor's fig tree. (granted, it is small, but I see tree blocks in its future.) I just can't pass interesting branches. and now that I have children and a book with lovely needlefelted mobiles... Well, let's just say that they are getting even harder to leave alone.



And seed pods? They are the little interesting cousins of large branches. There is a small basket more of these babies:

A non-holiday photo session

And then here are the boys with Ez's sword's and shields from his birthday.

So long Hanukkah - Till next year

Some of my favorite Hanukkah memories from this year:

• every time we would start singing the candlelighting blessings, B would start trying to blow out any candle he could reach
• Ezra asking starting at 2pm if it was candlelighting time yet and choosing everyone's candles for each night. I am amazed at how much older he seems this year.
• My dad being here for the first night.
• many well loved and already used items. Ez loves his sewing kit, his Knifty Knitter, the paints and holder, the juggling stix (which he has dubbed his best present ever) the books (especially Papa and Safta's Paper airplanes book) and later today he will be beside himself when he and Daddy go to Lowe's to buy the materials to build a playhouse for B and him.

And here is Ez building his very own Phantom Tollbooth.

p.s. Some of my friends have had photos stolen recently on Flickr, so I am changing the pictures of the boys to a friends/family only option. If you want to be included in this list, let me know and I will help you to become listed as a friend on Flickr if you need it.

Nearing the end of the projects

Whew. And now it is time to start thinking about what I'm going to work on - LEISURELY - when this is all over. In the meantime a few pics.

This is B's new doll. I (obviously!) haven't made his shirt yet, but I am in love with him he's soooo cute. I'm going to make another doll in the new year just for practice because I have wussed out and bought a premade head each time and it is time to learn to make a head myself!






And here is a shot of the boys.






And here is some fabric I found yesterday while I was at the store purchasing Wonder Under to patch some jeans. Ezra has requested an apron out of this. I think that would be adorable!

Keeping up with us

Here is Grampy and the boys from the his last day with us before he had to go back home.

And Mr. Easy Rider

And Z with the babies in his dumper



And, ssshhhhhh, don't tell him, but his socks are finished.



FO Report:

Socks for DS
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Watercolor colorway
Just basic socks, but in a new size for fast growing feet! Now I need to make another pair in toddler and then 2 hats in the matching worsted weight.

6th Birthday, another lost tooth and Solstice Walk

Here's Dad at the ocean. I've never been to a natural burm. It is seriously beautiful! The 2nd pic is Dad (Grampy!) and B

And B making a stone sculpture at the burm

Here's the birthday boy with his newly lost tooth. And, because he is rarely seen in these pictures, Michael! Here he is with Ezra making Paper Airplanes with his new book from Papa and Safta.

More to come. Presents were opened, but because it was 6:30 in the morning at the time, noone had the insight to grab a camera!

Non-Holiday Shopping

Nothing is worse than needing to shop for everyday items during the holidays. Ezra needed new shoes and new pants, so off we went to the mall because where else do you want to be in the middle of December. At least it wasn't a weekend. So here is the proud owner of new Stride Rite shoes (on sale. One of the pluses of non-holiday holiday shopping)





















Also, on a related note, any idea how hard it is to buy a present for someone who is right there and nosy as all get out? Yeah. It is difficult. But I did it and Ez will be getting a new shirt from Old Navy that he really wants as well.

Also purchased:
GapKids jeans and Khakis
More Time Moms Calendar (my 5th. I really like them)
Hanukkah Gelt
Old Navy shirts for B

And in other news. Presents are inching towards done. I started a doll sweater for Pokey. Ez's socks are almost finished. Trellis scarf is nowhere near done. B's socks are unstarted. Both kid's hats are unstarted. Michael hasn't made playhouse plans. Ez's sewing basket needs assembling (but is all purchased but the thread)

And my Dad arrives in town tonight!!!! Yay!!!

Stringing up the Hanukkah yo-yo's

And Hanukkah has arrived here at the house. Just in time too, apparently one of the other Jewish parents from Ezra's class is coming in today to make latkes and play dreidel and talk about the holiday. DH ended up hanging around to read a Hanukkah story to the class. Tomorrow is Divali with another parent. I think. Definately the Divali. Not so sure about the parent part.

Here are the yo-yo's in their place of honor. DH was worried about them looking a bit "garland-y" and therefore Christmas-y. I think they look great though and so does he now that they are in place.















Here is B helping decorate the sliding doors.





















And here is one finished sock and one on the needles for Z for Hanukkah.

















And a shot of the nature table moving into winter. Note the olive tree wands and the little mouse on the wood.

Winter Fairies and yo-yos

Here is one of the winter fairies of which I speak (the other was on his other arm.)















And then the yo-yos (not hung up yet)

















And look what came in the mail yesterday. Yep another project! This time B's new doll. You'll see I took the coward's way out and ordered a premade head. So sue me. I have a week to get it done! :)

















And, as a special bonus, I found my regular camera and figured out how to use it with my computer. You're welcome!

Busy busy busy

My hands have been very very busy the last few days. Mostly knitting but a little sewing as well. I've been sewing those yo-yo's that are so popular among crafty bloggers right now. I'm making Hanukkah themed ones and will use them to decorate around here.

And then the knitting. I am almost finished with DS#1's 1st sock. The heel is turned and I am halfway through the length of the foot. I can't take a photo because he's awake! Then I have the Mason Dixon Washcloth I just finished (but still need to block) for DS's teacher. Here's a photo:
















FO Report: Mason Dixon Washcloth-started 12/02/06, finished 12/6/06, for DS's teacher
yarn- Crystal Palace cotton chenille in yellow
needles- Addi Turbo circulars, size US8 24" and 4 skacel dpns, us size 8
notes- Seems to be knit a bit loose although according to gauge (at least at the beginning. I didn't check afterwards) Pattern error in round 24 (noted on the Mason Dixon Website)

And then there is the Halfdome hat from Knitty modelled by both of my boys!

















FO Report: Halfdome hat-for DH
yarn- Debbie Bliss Cashmerino
needles- Crystal Palace, size US3
notes- Made according to pattern for child size, realized it was way too big for my almost 6yo and made it longer to fit DH (I had intended to knit him one as well) I need to double check my gauge, although it seems to fall into line when I swatch.

So much for Holidailies

Wow. 4 days in and already I've missed a post. Poor DH. His computer was hit by an ugly trojan virus and so we've been working hard to rid him of it. And that's in addition to all the other things we did this weekend. Speaking of which, I got started on the socks for Hanukkah. Here's the 1st one on needles:

















I'm using Lorna's Laces in the "Watercolor" colorway. And I lucked out because I got some worsted from the same dyelot that I will knit hats from. I love it, although it looks slightly Mardi Gras color-wise to me.

In kid news, B went to the doctor again today. This time for some nasty splinters he had in his hand. Michael and I were able to get most of them out, but there was this one particular one that was really really deep and right at the bend of the knuckle. The doctor got it out really quickly though, so I do appreciate that! In trying to figure out where he picked up the splinter though, the only thing I could come up with that matched the type of splinter he had was the wood chips from that garden mulch. I've been meaning to get those all up anyway so I can dig the beds for spring planting, so I got out there this afternoon and cleared out most of the mulch (all I could anyway) from the main gardening bed. Once I amend the soil and dig it well, then I will work in some soil building compost and then cover it over with some more and then wait for spring planting. I am really looking forward to it!

DH's sister was kind enough to send money for the boys to have playstands built (by DH) this year, but we got to thinking, and if it is alright with her, we'd like to use the money to build them a playhouse outside instead. A friend has one for her kids and it is fairly simple and I think it will add quite a lot to the play value of our upper courtyard. Of course I've already dyed the playcloths for the playstands, but playcloths are always useful.

Lazy busy morning

There is so much going on around here that it is hard to get motivated to do any of it. At all. We were up late trying to save DH's computer which is being eaten by qhost trojan virus. And we have been busy at it this morning. We created a rescue disk from my computer this morning to try to save his. So it is going now and frankly I don't hold out much hope for him. Don't tell him. :(

I also need to do laundry and then take it to the laundromat to dry. Darn dead dryer.

Then go to the fabric store to buy fabric to make Z pants followed by a trip to the yarn store to buy yarn for socks for both boys.

There's also shopping. And the winter faire I had hoped to go to today (1 1/2 hours drive from here) and the Parade of lights at the Harbor this evening. Oh and the Farmer's market in Ojai tomorrow. And hiking. Meal planning. Shopping. Working on my Trellis scarf. Felting another project. Ironing. Maybe a concert tomorrow afternoon. Sewing. Other sewing (for DS's other gift) Hanukkah cards. Scrapping (which I am definately not getting to. The tooth scrapbook can wait until after the new year.)

:yawn:

What have I done so far? Washing two loads of laundry, dressing the children, feeding the children, dressing and showering myself (not in that order) and making a resuce disk.

Holidailies 2006 huh?

OK, I'll give it a go. If other people can succeed at NaNoBloPo, then I will give this a go. It'll be good discipline. If I make it...

It is a particularly busy month for me with Z's 6th birthday, Hanukkah, my Dad coming in town, school being out for 2 weeks, Dh being out of town, knitting, crafting, gift preparing (and buying) and so on and so on.

I'd better make a plan.

Did I mention I spent $175 today at Trader Joe's and there is nothing to eat in the house? Seriously. It is all in kosher meat, fish, frozen fruit for smoothies, fresh fruit and veggies and staples (like olive oil and Rice Dream) Makes me want to cry. And DH wonders where my grocery money goes. My cart was full too. Like overflowing-I-need-to-pay-now-because-I-can't-fit-anything-else-in-here-or-it-will-slide-to-the-ground full.

I have sock yarn to buy this weekend and hat yarn (and maybe Kureyon Kozy yarn. But that would be wrong. I have hats to make. and socks. and felted boxes. The tea pot is already warm.)

Love Thursday

She Knits Shiznits posts each Thursday what she loves. Today she asked about what we love. Here are a few of mine:

- working on a home craft with other women and feeling part of a community (like yesterday's dyeing)

- when DH reaches over to touch my shoulder when we are both working on our respective computers just to connect.

- peppermint mochas (made at home) and Peet's caramel lattes (made at, well, Peet's)

- Cold bring-out-the-sweaters weather.

- the joy on my toddler's face when he makes the huge jump from the coffee table to the sofa. (But don't tell him!)

- the bottom tooth-less grin on Z's face.

- finding a great treasure for the nature table

- children quietly and happily playing together

- Candy cane Joe's O's

I really need to remember I have a camera

I went to a dyeing party today to dye a couple of cotton playcloths that I bought and there was this beautiful clothesline full of rainbow colored playsilks and playcloths. But did I take a picture? Of course not. So once again, you are subjected to my almost useless (but shamefully overused) camera to see the 2 that I dyed today in much less attractive light. *sigh*















I made a purple-y blue and a green (for water/evening sky and grass/treetops) Now I need to iron them and put them away for Hanukkah.

It is amazingly windy around here today. So blustery in fact that drying the playcloths outside was extremely difficult as they kept flying away! But they did dry quickly once I got them pinned down. (so to speak. I can't actually pin anything down because clothespins do not last around here.) I keep waiting for our power to go out as it often does during heavy wind.

Now I have a few more projects to start and complete in the 2 weeks and 3 days until Hanukkah. I'd better get cracking I guess. At least I've ordered the supplies for the biggest of them...

MIA: Another tooth

Can you believe it? Tooth #2 is out only 4 days after tooth #1. and here is Z's self portrait of tooth #2 (or 2th as Z spelled it for the tooth fairy):
















In knitting news, there is no way at all that I will finish this for Lacevember. It just isn't gonig to happen. But I will get it done before the 1st of the year. I have a goal! This is Lacevember 2 days ago. I have 2 more repeats done on it to make a total of 12. Just over the halfway mark.


















By the way, I've found a new trick - a tiny piece of modelling beeswax (in red in my case) stuck next to the current row I'm repeating on the pattern. It moves easily, doesn't fall off as easily as a post-it and is red so that it draws my eye to it as I glance over to work the row.

Big day here at Chez Woofairy

First Z lost his 1st tooth!! About a month before he turned 6. Same as me!

















And then there were walnut boats! (See that north wind blow?)

More knitting... and a little not

So I have made 6 repeats out of 23 on this Trellis Scarf. I think it will be a valiant effort, but I am, perhaps, a touch over my head to try to finish this lace project in a month. Here are my current efforts:

















In other bits, the parent teacher conference wasn't the agony I thought it would be. Turns out the issues weren't as bad as we thought and the teacher is concerned about the few specific things we brought to her and will keep an eye out. In the meantime, we will keep an eye out for Z and his issues here at home. I firmly believe he has sensory issues on many levels that are contributing. I'm trying to keep the boys dairy free, which is proving to be a challenge because DH keeps forgetting and giving them things with dairy in them. I do know when B has cheese or regular milk or yogurt, he is up screaming throughout the night. I am allergic to dairy with special sensitivity to cheese (If I have any I get an immediate and sometimes severe headache) Have I mentioned I like cheese? ::grumble::

I did some good holiday shopping at the Elves Faire on Saturday. That place is such a joy! I look forward to it every single year and so does Z. More later. Off to do laundry and be Mommy!

Trouble in __________ City

a. Lace

Before I go in too deep let me say that I have overcome (?) and now have 5 repeats done, but not before needing to take a break after noticing a dropped stitch at least 1 repeat down. I haven't included lifelines in this piece because this yarn does not frog. It just breaks and knots. So I fixed it as best I can and am now working on accepting my imperfection. But I was mega-disappointed.

b. School

The last few weeks Z has been laothe to go to school. He bargains with me every morning to not go. The last two days I kept him home since I had the (admittedly weak) excuse of impetigo on his face. So we went to the school's Thanksgiving feast today and I had a disturbing (to me) conversation with another parent who helps in the class regularly (I can't since we don't have childcare for B right now) about how the teacher invalidates, ignores or is downright disrespectful to Z's feelings etc. She had several specific examples that sounded as unbiased as she could make them. (her characterizations of my son were fair but accurate to both his good and not so good characteristics) Apparently during "Magic Circle" (which is a time where the kids are encouraged to share their feelings with their classmates) many of the kids have taken to saying I like so and so (whoever they played with at recess that day) and one day a child named many many people in the class and left Ezra out and he said "what about me" in a hurt way and rather then acknowledging those feelings and helping him and the class through them and using it as a learning experience, she told him he wasn't allowed to comment on someone else's words and he probably just wasn't listening anyway. The other parent also told me of a few other incidents from Magic Circle and also of times where the teacher has corrected him in such a way in class as to embarrass him instead of simply to correct him.

I don't agree with Magic Circle in general, but the point of it is to help the kids to understand and process their feelings and the feelings of others. If real true deep feelings are being ignored, then not only is it not helpful, but it is truly deeply detrimental to their emotional health.

Tomorrow is our parent teacher conference (as luck would have it) and this needs to and will get brought up. At this point, even though I am loathe homeschool, I am beginning to feel as though I have no choice. He is still just a baby and he will learn soon enough that people are cruel and mean, at 5, he should still think things are lovely and safe.

Another Lacevember Meme

What are your ideal lace making conditions?

First and foremost there can be no children awake or at least in the same house as me. The stress of having to stop mid-row is too much. Will I remember where I was? Won't I? Will I drop a stitch because I wasn't paying close enough attention and then lose heaven only knows how much work?

Besides that, I love to sit in my big ole chair/recliner (although I don't recline in it often, especially while I am knitting) and watch reality TV. Well, listen to Reality TV, because, let's face it, if you are watching something else while you are attempting to knit lace, whcih means following a chart and following your own needles, then you may as well try to knit with a toddler in the room! If there is a fresh latte next to me the more the better so that I can sip between rows. It better be decaf though because, as I mentioned, I'll be drinking it post-kids bedtime and while I enjoy knitting lace, I don't want to be up all night doing it!

A little Lacevember photo session

Because I am pathetic and cannot figure how to get pictures off of my real digital camera onto my computer, I must torture you with cell phone pics. Hey, at least they are something. They prove I am knitting. Or at least someone near me is knitting and I'm taking the credit. Blame? Anyway. It's me and here are the photos of the Trellis Scarf to prove it. Well, 3 repeats of the trellis scarf anyway.

The knitting questions, or the usual suspects (a Lacevember post)

How long have you been knitting? 4 years

How did you learn to knit? taught myself from Melanie Falick's Kids Knitting when I signed up for a parent and me class at a Waldorf school and found out we weren't covering knitting until the spring. I wanted to learn now! thankyouverymuch. So I did.

Favorite thing about knitting? the challenge of learning a new skill. I don't think I have approached one single project without planning for it to teach me something. First knitting in general, then purling, then in the round, then socks, etc. It is a real sense of accomplishment. And then I seem to give everything away. So I guess it is also a built in gift system?

How long have you been knitting lace? 1 1/2 years

Favorite thing about knitting lace. Lots of holes in my work that hide the accidental ones...? No really, probably the delicacy of it. I am not a lacy person in general in both style and my physical person. Knitting lace is a feminine feeling thing and it reminds me that I am delicate too.

The yarn questions, or flash your stash

Favorite lace yarn? Don't have one. Least favorite is Rowan 4 ply cotton. Makes a good hat, but is tough to continue to knit with throughout the whole project. Also? Booooooooooring.

variegated or solids for shawls? Wow. Totally depends on the shawl. Generally in lace I like solids, in heavier yarns, variegated.

Favorite lace color? Must be blue since I keep knitting lace with it! Although I didn't realize it until this question.

Technique, or show us your skillz

Circs or straights? I prefer straights. I like the longer needles in my hands

Favorite lace knitting trick? I just don't have one. Or if I have one I don't know that it is a trick! Are there favorite tricks out there that I'm totally missing?

Lifelines? If so with what? I have had friends recommend this to me and I totally considered using it for this project, but this yarn is completely unfroggable, so I figured "what's the point?" So short answer? No. But I am keeping it in my future tricks to try file.

Fancy blocking wires, or just sewing pins stuck in your carpet? Sewing pins. Carpet. Toddler. Really it is a race against time. Block it at night after bedtime and hope it is dry first thing in the morning and pull it up before he finds it. It adds an element of suspense to blocking that I think it is really lacking LOL

Pattern, or can you follow directions

shawls or lacey items? shawls and scarves. I like hats too, but they are harder to find patterns for in lace.

triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls? What do I like best? Rectangle absolutely. At least if I'm going to wear it.

Charts or printed instructions? charts for intricate things, but printed instructions are fine for simple repeats.

Favorite lace you've knit? The one I'm working on now - IK Spring 2006 Trellis Scarf

Favorite lace you want to knit? Shetland Shawl.

Just Fun, yup that's right, just for fun

Favorite jelly belly flavor? A toss up between toasted marshmallow and sizzling cinnamon but I enjoy occasionally grossing myself out with the Bertie Botts flavors (eeeewwww earthworm!. Bacon?)

Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red..... Oooooo that movie with Tim Robbins and John Cleese? Oh wait. That's Erik the Viking... It's funny though. Or at least it used to be when I was an adolescent.

Coke, classic or with lime? Dr Pepper. Coke is a poor substitute but will do in a pinch.

Holiday carols, sing along, or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves? Banned except for like a two week stretch. Especially as piped in sound in stores!

What is the definition of irony? The fact that the Alannis Morrisette song about irony doesn't include even one example of actual irony?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? I have never licked a Tootsie Pop. Who licks a Tootsie pop? It is a sucker. You suck it. And you suck it until it is thin enough to crunch and then you chew it so it mixes in with the Tootsie Roll center. Any other way is blasphemy. Licks. Girlfriend, please. That was always a misguided commercial.

Why is my cat always puking in front of my son's bedroom door? Boobie trap.

What is your superhero power? bedtime! I can get a houseful of children (and occasionally a husband) asleep by 7:30, 7:45 at the latest! (watch that come back to bite me in the butt!)

If the laundry is 9 foot by 11 foot (just dreaming, that's a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3 inches by 5 inches, what color should those tiles be? Anything but white. And make them mildly textured so when water drips you don't get a closeup of them right before you black out.

What's for dinner tonight? Leftover turkey meatloaf made into burgers. And corn and salad.

What is clogging my children's bathtub drain? non skid strips. They love to pull them up from the bottom of the tub and then must dispose of them in an inconspicuous place. The drain is obvious really. It is handy and under the water, so the evidence can be disposed of without even coming above the surface of the water. And they are often clear. Mark my words...

My first Knitalong!

I have joined the Lacevember Knitalong. Eek! Now I actually have to actually do what I say I'm gonna do and knit this darn thing!

And "this darn thing" is the Trellis scarf from Interweave Knits Spring 2006. Gulp. It has 23 repeats and I can do one repeat a day because it takes two hours to do a repeat of 16 rows. And I can only do it after kids go to bed because it is a complicated lace pattern and therefore not conducive to putting it down mid row to chase a 1 1/2yo!

Well, I have two repeats done. Just 21 more to go!

Fall Nature Table

With special thanks to Papa and Safta who sent such beautiful leaves all the way from Tennessee!

Love Thursday

I love

-post bath candlelight bedtime with the boys

-seeing DH more now that he works closer

-making new friends

-Peet's caramel lattes - now 10 cents cheaper!

- B's toddler words
pum-pum pumpkin
birbee birdie
Ama Mama
Mama for Daddy (I'm sure that'll get straightened out!)
and a brief appearance halfway through Trick or Treating on Tuesday night that was some approximation of trick or treat, but untypeable and probably will never be repeated again. and speaking of...

-Trick or Treating with the boys. OMG did B have a blast. who knew a 20 month old would enjoy that so much. Z loved it too. He really got into discovering the neighborhood with us and was bummed when we canvassed all of the neighborhood we intended to.

-freshly roasted pumpkin seeds

-luminaries. I had no idea I liked these so much!!! They made our front path look so inviting though.

A week off

So Ez has had this past week off from school for Fall Break. We've had fun painting and keeping house and we even got to go to where Daddy's new office is gonig to be and help lay out chalk lines for where the desks are going to be. I think he's going to be a combo of bummed and glad to be back at school on Monday. They are actually going on a field trip to a farm on Monday, so that should ease the transition. And then there is Tuesday - Halloween. They are having a costume parade on Tuesday morning followed by their first Integrated Arts Day. I have no idea what that entails exactly, but I guess I'll know soon enough. The boys are going to be train engineers for Halloween - Ez's idea. The plan is also to turn the Sit N' Stand Stroller into a train engine with the aid of a large cardboard box. We'll see how that turns out. If that turns out.

Challah Boys

Challah Boys
Originally uploaded by woolfairy.

Thought you'd like to check out the latest Flickr pics

Well, I think I'm back at blogger. Xanga just wasn't working out for me. And I figured out my blogger problems (which involved self-hosting and a wonky template)

For a Z funny, try this one out:

Z has been battling (along with his brother before him and his mother after him) Hand foot and mouth. The mouth sores *really* hurt and keep you from eating and make you feel generally awful (and I can tell you this from current experience) Anyway, this is what he said the other day:

I'm telling on G-d for this. I'm gonna tell Moses!

Kids are funny.

Just a test

Just seeking if this works

I am mostly posting over at Xanga nowadays since blogger hates me, but I wanted to do a shout out to myself because I have FINISHED the French Market bag (that I had to put on hold all through my pregnancy and which I never really returned to after B was born.) And all of a sudden I am in a knitting renaissance. Now that I finished it, I finally feel cleared of all that dead weight and I have all these new project ideas. And what's more, I actually like the bag, so I will use it (I thought I would never want to see it again, but felting it changed everything)

Now on to some baby socks and longies...