Projects to keep me happy!

So, here's what I'll be working on this month! I have, like most knitters, accumulated a lot. A lot of yarn, a lot of needles of every type, a lot of books and patterns and A LOT of UFO's! (un-finished projects for you non-knitters!)

I've decided to allow myself 1 or at least 1/2 of a square from my Great American Aran Afghan project in between other UFO's that I need to finish. Here's what I've done so far.

In March, I really need to be able to pick up Meag's lacy sweater so that I can finish it for summer weather. I cannot work on it till the scarves and socks and such are done.

So here's my list in no particular order.

UFO's
Malabrio scarf for someone sweet (need by January 24)

Cashmere scarf for my favorite daughter

On-Hold Socks for Meag - from Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson

Socks for Dear Hubby - Two at a time - from the toe up - what was I thinking?????

Mystery wrap - scrumptious mystery yarn from Laurie - Directions, sit, cast on 100 (size 19), knit, BO, enjoy! There are 4-5 yarns in this hank so it will be quite fun seeing what it makes!

So...A new journey is beginning...

When Sean and Meag were little, I went back to AMC to get my degree in Music. I had no idea what I was really in for until I got there. Sure music what what I was most passionate about but until you're in the thick of it you have no idea that you will be leaning everything there is to know about ALL music! It was, in fact, the hardest thing I'd ever done.

Although the kids were now in school, I was overwhelmed with guilt and stress and work! When I was home, I had to balance being the mom I was accustomed to being with getting my homework and studying done. The stress was unbelievable.

I started walking taking better care of my health to help regulate that stress and to get myself into a better place, emotionally and physically. This career in music education has been no different in the areas of stress and business. It is so easy to become over committed and as a mom, that again leaves no time to do what I need to do for me.

That stops now.

The new situation with having to now take over the instrumental program in addition to what I'm already doing at the high school will be perhaps, a bigger challenge than getting my Masters at BU while working! I will be of no use to anyone if I am not better equipped to step up to all of the added stress and workload. And thus a new journey begins....

I hope to have the details posted later today or tomorrow so stay tuned.... This blog is about to morph into something besides the daily knitting lessons, although I hope they will forever remain a part of my journey!

Day 58 - Two months later....

So, it's been two months since I've written on my "daily" blog! I have been knitting - not everyday through June, but keeping it going through most of July. I have started a pair of socks for Dan that are a lovely grey, superwash Merino. They are a challenge in that I really wanted to do them in a new way. I decided to try magic loop knitting and am doing them two at a time. This really makes it seem to go faster - I know it's all an illusion, but I still enjoy watching them develop together! I also decided to do these socks toe-up since finding cuff down TAAT magic loop patterns was difficult.

So there it is, three new techniques in one project! I knew when starting these I could potentially fail. Thus far it's been easy. I will have to see when it comes time for the heel flap and gussets.

I still have Meag's lacey sweater to finish, Mom's afghan and Patty's tuscany shawl (not to mention many other WIPsS) but I am enjoying the peacefulness of simple sock patterns for now!

Day 57 - Have I said that I'm a starter......?

So, if I know this about myself already, why does it always surprise and annoy me? I love to go all out and start things but rarely finish them completely! I think I have this aversion to something great ending so I'm always looking for distractions! That's the line I'm going with anyway!

I have several projects in the works and all of this glorious weather has my fingers itching for 'non-wool' options. Thus I've made some nice progress on Meag's bamboo sweater. Truth be told, unless I knit on that all day for a few weeks, I won't finish it in time for her to wear it this summer! Grrrrr....

Sean's block-a-month has stagnated and I need to knit up May and June soon. Mom's afghan hasn't been touched for two weeks...it's virgin wool for goodness sake...hot, hot, hot!

So, true to form, I found another urgent project that just has to start now and jumped off that cliff! I've finally gotten of my behind and dug out the walking sneakers! Three days in a row now. I'm a little soar but I am determined to keep it up! I'm eating well ~ yummy, healthy foods~ and I'm letting myself 'run' with this new found desire to get back into all my 'cool' clothes! I think I may post a daily food log here so if you're not interested in those, check the title....I'll name it something obvious! I just need to record it all to keep me motivated!

Happy summer!

Day 56 - Why an hour of knitting in the first place

After a very long day of highest highs and some pretty low lows, I found myself chastising the idea of finding an hour a day to knit! How ridiculous with all that goes on in my life, right? Well, I remember why. I finally had a chance yesterday to sit down and watch some mindless tv and I picked up Mom's afghan and knitted the whole time. I have been memorizing the pattern with each sitting so that I can almost do it without the chart. As the panel gets longer, I get less stressed and cranky. I take the focus off all that went wrong with me and my day to focussing on what's right with this surprise, with happy family memories and it all melts away.

Okay, so maybe it all comes right back when I put the project down and life begins it's assault again, but for one glorious hour, all is right with the world!

Day 54 - Why are my posts taking weeks to show up??????

Oh, the joys of technology! I have no idea why my posts are appearing three weeks after I write them but it certainly makes my reading them more fun!

Yesterday, I attempted to discover where I'd left off on Meag's spring sweater but I am not really good at finding the needle in a haystack. I may have to frog it and begin again. I hate to do it as it's a really long cast on, but I'm only 1 1/2" into it so maybe it's better to count my losses now. I really need to find time for that "happy place." These days, work and life have been trying my patience and we'd all benefit from Mom finding a little time for peace!

On a totally different note, I have begun to allow myself time to write again. I have been working on finishing up 5 songs and have recorded the first two. I've been away from the performance aspect of my craft for far too long and this has really been motivating and inspiring! I've shared some of my pieces with some experts and some other trained musician. All seem to like what I've produced and I've gotten some really great constructive critiques which have allowed me to improve some things. I guess the real test is the family and friends I've shared them with. After all they are a more realistic sample of a potential audience. As hard as that's been, they've all loved it! Such a scary ledge to jump from but it's getting easier each time.

I've had some interesting doors open lately and if I can just get through the next 6 weeks with grace, who knows what next year will bring. I do know that it will be different in many ways and I can't wait!

Okay, off to rip it, rip it, rip it!!!!!!

Day 53 - Never stop in the middle of a problem!

Okay so yesterday, I picked up my Aran square with the hopes of some relaxing and productive knitting time! What I discovered was that someone has been playing with my row counter...click, click, click....apparently it's irrisistable! So as I agonize over what row I left off on and begin knitting, I remember that I'd left this project for a while because somewhere, I'd made a mistake that's throwing the pattern off! I wasn't able to find it and thus walked away.

Lesson: a knitter's notebook is an invaluable tool!

Not to be deterred, and determined to make the most of my only opportunity to knit in maybe a month, I abandoned ship and picked up the lucious cotton/bamboo sweater that I'd started for Meag. After all, it was a gorgeous day today, I walked, we saved bunnies, cooked a fabulous and healthful dinner, it only made sence to pick up the organic bamboo! Once I got settled and looked at the pattern to see where I'd left off, I found a 3 x 3 piece of paper attached that read "ripped out 4 rows already; still can't find mistake. Find and correct or rip and start agian!"

Lesson: a knitter's notebook is an invaluable tool, but find the mistake before you put the project down!

Maybe today will provide me with more time, and energy to tackle my past! Let's hope so!

Day 50 - The sunny weather is calling to my wool-covered fingers!

And it's screaming for something lighter! Although my progress on the Aran Afghan is steadily moving forward, and Sean's black and gold afghan is coming along nicely, there is a yearning from within for cottons and bamboo! I found a handsome sweater in an old Interweave magazine (Summer 2008) that Sean really liked. After trying to find the yarn locally and failing, I tried a few other types to see if there was something I could substitute and be happy with. Having worked with bamboo before and knowing how it lends itself to a luxurious drape, I cut my losses and ordered the yarn on-line. I figured that if my 16 year old son is asking me to knit "that sweater" for him, my chances of him wearing it are much greater if it turns out just like "that sweater!" I was amazed that my Thursday evening order arrived early on Saturday and he loved the yarn so 'yeah Mom!'

Meaghan also picked out a cute little summery-lacey long sleeved-t in a Verbena magazine and I found a great Debbie Bliss Bamboo Merino to use in a buttery yellow. She's so excited and I've just created my first chart...the one in the magazine was so tiny! I'm so happy to have something summery to knit in between my wool projects. I am itching for Spring and Summer and cannot wait to spend more days in the sunshine. For now, I'll have to settle for knitting in sunshiney-yellow!

Day 49 - each stitch represents progress and change

These are the things I need to remember! With every stitch I make, I witness the knotting of yarn turning into something amazing. They are the baby steps that lead to greatness! This is where my focus needs to be. When I'm knitting, I can tune out all of the petty people, the dishonesty we face daily and the purely cruel behavior of people who are supposed to be professional. I need to channel that in every moment of my days just to get through!

I do realize that there needs to be change and challenge. Right now for example, I am knitting the baby fern for a block of Sean's afghan. It started out great and moves quickly, but holy moly am I BORED! It's tedious! I should be sailing through but I'm making careless mistakes, measuring it every 5 minutes to see how much closer to done I am! This is not how it's supposed to be. I find my mind wandering to that next Aran square I want to start! Or that yarn I need to order to start the sweater Sean wants! I'm only on square 4 of the afghan though so I cannot lose steam already! I guess I'll have to chose more challenging squares for his project and start those others too!

Change and challenge make me happy! Bring it on world!

Day 48 - 10 days...where have they gone?

Well, I have not been doing a good job of keeping up with this blog and to those who are/were reading faithfully, I am sorry. I will do better.

On a happier note, I've been able to get a lot done over the last 10 days. The house and yard are shaping up nicely. This weekend full of sunshine filled my lungs and my spirit with positively wonderful happiness! I have successfully completed several squares for Sean's afghan. I'm now working on a baby fern leaf pattern to replace the April square which I didn't really love. I also think I may in fact do more than the 12 squares for this so it's a bit larger for my tall kiddo. We'll see! I guess I love that I am embracing the freedom of this project. I do have the expectation of finishing 1 block per month, but they're so easy I can do more and other projects at the same time.

With that in mind, I began my journey into Aran kitting and began my first block of my Great Aran Afghan. I chose a lovely pattern that had cables winding majestically up and down the center. I had a little trouble beginning but a Ravelry friend graciously emailed me some charts she'd made and that was a life saver! I completed my first square on Friday evening and was thrilled! It did turn out the wrong size, 10 X 11 1/2 (they're supposed to be 12 x 12) but I'm hoping I an block it to the correct measurements. We'll see I guess!

Anyway, I learned that I can really tackle new and complicated endeavors and come out on top! I think if I applied this to my current situation, it may look like a new job! Or perhaps a new path on this overall journey. The possibilities are like the Spring sunshine, I am glowing and invigorated to see what each new day and each new stitch brings!

Day 45 - Time spent learning, growing and cherishing every moment

Today I finally made it to Woolworks and was struck by how although it's been so long since I've been able to spend time with my friends there, it felt like coming home. There were new relatives to meet and although they are now the regulars and I was the 'new one' to them, I still felt completely at ease and happy. Such lovely new people. I miss that time I used to be able to find for me. I'm determined to find that again.

Jen was so gracious and patient with my learning process as she taught me how to 'set in' my sleeves to Nanny's sweater. Unlike the old days when I would happily let her teach me by doing it for me, today I needed to understand every step and do it myself. She was great about helping me when I was afraid to do it wrong and so wonderfully patient when I constantly asked "is this right?" It is so important to get this one right and to settle for mistakes today is not an option. At one point, I'd realized I'd done something wrong and it wasn't a problem to rip it out and do it right. I really feel like I hit a new level of understanding today. And not just about the sweater! I have about 5 more ends to weave in and then tomorrow I will lovingly knit the collar band and the button band on both sides and I will be done completely. When I try it on with the sleeves all done, I am so excited. I think Noreen would have been so please with this use of the Christmas gift money! I think she would have been proud to see that I'd actually stuck with it and finished it! I wish she were here to celebrate when I finish it.

It is amazing how things turn out alright in the end. Through today's wonderful endevors, I met some wonderful new friends, refreshed my harried state of mind with good friends and good conversation and ended the day with a wonderful meal at Olive Garden with the most wonderful husband and children. I so enjoyed the day. It reminded me how much the time spent with those you love has got to be the priority in life. It is not enough to be so busy building careers or networking for advancement. What matters most is people and relationships. I am blessed to have won the lottery in that respect. Some interesting conversations today made my future endevors even more appealing too so that was an enexpected bonus!

Tomorrow I will post the finished sweater project and celebrate!

Day 44 - Peace comes from following your gut

There is so much to be said for faith and although I've lived like I've lost it over the past years, if I'm honest with myself, I've never stopped believing all that I've been taught. I've just stopped doing what I know I should. So it should be no surprise to me that I've reached that place where it's time to do some honest reflection and listening.

This requires quiet. That's not easy in my life. I am always moving, doing, listening, playing music, multi-tasking. I used to joke that I had become and expert at "creative avoidance." It's not funny anymore. To sit quietly with my thoughts is tough. It's really hard to hear that internal voice again. I have been silencing it for way too long.

Tonight, as I picked up Sean's afghan, I did not allow myself to think of the fact that in two short year's he'll be planning where he's going to pack it up and move it to. College is right around the corner. As row after row of consistent pattern works it's magic, I feel peace. I feel content in the joy that this product and the process by which it is made brings. I know the love that is captured in each block. I know that will follow him where ever he goes.

As the evening goes on and the noise of the FB chatter and Idol fade, I begin to hear that peaceful voice feeding my creative side again. I hear the direction it it leading me in and I am listening. Life is too short to be moving in the wrong direction or to be planted in the fear that long ago captured you. Like the pattern unfolding, that voice can create something beautiful and lovely and exactly what is was designed to create - if we could only just have fail and listen

Day 41 - Knitting for relief tonight

Wow! I'm writing quickly because I am determined to get an hour of knitting in tonight! I need that! Today was back to work and then home to drop stuff off, to the rink to miss Meag's lesson. Then to the food store for dinner stuff. Luckily I thought to get stuff for tomorrow too! Then back to pick Meag up at the rink and home. Once home it was time to bake peanut butter criss cross cookies in order for Dan. Today marks two years since we lost Noreen and they were always her favorites so tonight we said 'we love you and miss you" with cookies!

Then I had to cook dinner and now the olympics have started and I'm signing off to go watch, relax and knit. Then it's early lights out because there's work again tomorrow! Yuck!

Day 40 - Embracing the unknown

I finally found time to begin a new project! I know, I know, I should NOT be starting something new when I've not finished what I promised myself I would do, but I really wanted to do the Block-A-Month Afghan and most of the knitters are already finishing February's block and I'd not even started.

Yesterday, on the way to game day, we stopped at a shop along the way and I picked up some black and yellow/gold yarn to begin this project. I also printed the entire project and gave it to my sister-in-law so that maybe we could do this together! She loved it! So, back to the yarn....I decided that I'd make this for my 16 hear old son. I've started sweaters for him but never finished and frankly, it's easier to knit for me or my daughter and I really want to have something just for him. He has his heart set on getting into Wake Forest and so he chose black and gold! I hate knitting in black since it's so hard to see any mistakes and is already proving difficult. Oh, well!

After one evening, I'm halfway done the January block and can't wait to finish and get at the February. Then maybe I can enjoy the process. I don't knit well with deadlines so I'll need to really allow myself an entire month for the future blocks!

Lesson this week: Learn to feel the process. Too much thinking lead to second guessing and when you're knitting with black yarn, that can be dangerous!

Day 39 - Game Day - precious time together

So yesterday was a great day of fun games at my brother's house. Dan and I went with the kids and John and Glo and the girls were there as was Grandma and Jill's boyfriend. It was amazing to see that here were were two families with teenagers and college students enjoying each other's company all day and evening. We played lots of new (to us) board games, had a lovely dinner, and played some more. It was great!

My brother has loved board games as far back as I can remember and he's got quite the collection now. I'm not talking about Monopoly or Life, but games of intrigue, strategy, and thoughtful plotting against your opponents! It's really quite fun! My family has become hooked on several of these and it really nice to have something that brings us together that is not electronic! I've even found some of these games online so I can try to get better at them before the next beating; I mean gathering!

On another note, today is officially the last day of vacation and that makes me very sad. A friend of mine joked about my week of cooking, knitting and baking and said "the women's movement wants a word with me." (or something to that effect!) The truth of the matter is, of all the jobs I have had, I love this one the most! I get the most fulfillment out of doing and caring for my family. Does that make me weird? Does it make me some kind of sub-par female? I don't believe it does. There are plenty of us out there who prefer that role to those we've had to take to make ends meet or to try to secure our future financial status, or even our children's' futures.

I was lucky enough to find a career that allows me to explore and submerse myself in something I'm passionate about (music), but truthfully, I get more out of being a good mom and wife. (and no, Tim, I am not a Stepford or my house would be clean and tidy!)

So although tomorrow I will go back to work and try to teach and inspire my students, and my family life will become confused and chaotic with skating, soccer and a number of other things interfering with the day, today I will embrace this last day of precious time and cook a comforting meal, bake and awesome bread, make some rich and decadent dessert and find time to knit and snuggle my family!

Day 37 - Kitting, cooking, baking and loving every minute of it....who wants to clean?

So, today was a REALLY productive day! Here's the rundown. I joined a new group on Ravely for writers and was so inspired by the prospect that I took the weekly assignment and wrote a song. Now it's not perfect or even finished but it's on its way. This is really the first time I'll willingly share my music with others. We'll see where it goes - vulnerability is really hard, but necessary for growth.

So after much deliberating, I picked out recipes for dinner tonight. I began prepping as Meag got ready for skating lessons only to find out that I was missing ingredients again! This time for the entre, the back-up entre and the dessert! Not to be deterred or derailed, I pressed on and changed gears. I ran to the local Super-Walmart and found everything I needed for both meals. Look at me planning ahead! I truly am a work in progress! Sadly, the 25 minute wait in line to check out made it really hard to keep my cool! By the time I got home, I had just enough time to bring the groceries in, throw them on the counter and run out again to take Meag to the rink.

Okay, so I regrouped and drove right back home to make the cake. Sean was all geared up to help! Have I said that I've got awesome kids? Well, I do! I don't know of many others who can say "yup, my 16 year old son offered to help in the kitchen!" We got all of the ingredients out, or rather, moved them around so we could at least see them in the mess of groceries and began. I sprayed the new pretty bundt pan, creamed the softened butter, sugar and eggs...WAIT, What????? Softened butter????? Where'd that come from? So into the microwave it went for too long and into the mixer. Sean made the Earl-Grey tea and let that steep and while that was working, I gave him instructions as to how to melt the chocolate over the make-shift double boiler and he happily set about the task. I even explained to him that he'd never want to sneak a bite of that chocolate as it's completely unsweetened and totally gross!

I finished mixing the butter, sugar and eggs and realized that I needed that chocolate that wasn't ready yet. I got the dry ingredients ready and then added, everything else, threw it in the pan. I threw the pan in the oven and ran back out to the rink to pick Meag up. She'd made plans to have friends over in less than an hour and then they were going to the movies!

When we returned, I began the Julia Child's dinner I'd watched her cook on tv that looked so delicious. It really was just burgers and rice but done so differently. I thought it would be safe to begin my new cooking adventure with this meal. I began the soubise and although it was over cooked a bit, it was pretty good. I cooked the most yummy burgers I'd ever had although they sound better as "Biftek hache, saute nature!" The burgers were served over the rice and I even made a mustard and herb sauce to pour over the top!

I actually deglazed a pan for the first time in my life! Wahoo! I'm really cooking now! Tomorrow, Sean's having his new friends over for the first time and I'm cooking some home made bread, barbeque ribs and another Earl-Grey-Chocolate cake. I'll serve it with the spinach risotto and hopefully they'll eat well and be happy.

And tonight, I will sit here and knit and relax and be happy!

Day 34 - Valentine's Day

What a great day! We were supposed to go to the Museum of Science to see the Harry Potter Exhibit with Laurie and Rachel, but we discovered it was sold out till after 6pm! We decided to take the kids to see Avatar at Imax instead only to find that they were sold out everywhere. After settling for 3D, which was really cool, we headed out to Natick/Framingham and bopped around the Natick Mall for an hour while we waited.

Laurie and I got some really yummy braising sauces at William Sanoma and I'm eager to try them out this week. The movie was long but I loved it! I was frankly expecting to hate it and was really surprised. Yeah James Cameron!

After a wonderful day, we ate a great meal at Vinny Testa's in Shrewsbury. Now, I've finally found a little time to knit while enjoying the Winter Olympics. All in all, a great day today!

Day 33 - Valentine's Eve - a busy day!

So, I thought that I'd get to enjoy my love of fiber today, but as life would have it, I spent the day of in search of the gifts that would make my loved ones happy! This journey took me the Providence Place Mall and then out to Bristol, RI to find the perfect gift for Dan.

I'd been searching for a trinity knot pendant, but apparently they don't make 'manly' versions of those! While I was there I was browsing the jewelry cases and found it. I knew right when I saw it that it was the perfect symbol of what I feel for Dan. It was a beautiful claddagh ring. We'd thought about getting them as wedding bands but I'd already had the opal one Dan had given me (sadly I lost that at school two years ago) and it would not have worked with the engagement ring he'd given me.

I don't know why it didn't seem at all strange that he would be replacing the ring I'd placed on his finger 17+ years ago, but this just felt right! It may need to be sized, but it looks wonderful and he loves it! I am so happy and I hope that when he looks at it, he remembers how much I adore him!

Needless to say, I've done NO knitting today! How is it that I cannot make time for that anymore? It's vacation! What's up with that?

Day 32 - Vacation....Finally!

So here we are; the beginning of February vacation. There are many schools that don't have it anymore and at the high school level, I could do without it as we have shortened day schedules in March due to CAPT testing and it feels like we're losing so much teaching time. I am, however, intending to enjoy every minute of it. With no show choir commitments this year, my vacations are actually just that again! I can now plan outings with my own children and family without worrying about long choreography rehearsals. I'm sure there are many parents out there thinking the same thing. Although we really miss it, there are some up sides!

This has been a crazy and demanding work-week and I feel complete and total mental exhaustion. I am headed out to my son's last basketball game tonight and then I am going to come home to relax, drink a nice glass of wine and knit. I hope to finish the base of the felted project for my swappee and shrink it tomorrow. It's the needle felting I love to do. This part is pretty tedious to be honest. I guess many of life's tasks are. It's a little like parenting, you have to just keep at it an hope that it turns out beautiful when it's time to let it stand on its own!

I am really hoping to figure out how to insert pictures in this blog over vacation too! I think my page is really boring and maybe that's why no one comments? We shall see!

Day 31 - second guessing my design

So I've gone back to counting days as far as days I actually do this experiment, not counting days I miss. Does that make more sense? I am finding it really hard to find or take one hour a day to knit. It's beginning to feel like something I 'have to do' rather than something I love and want to do. Anyway, this is me struggling to figure out how to keep the love alive!

So what I 'am' working on is a gift for my swap partner and it's something I've never made before. I'm felting something that I'll then needle felt something on...can't go into detail in case she reads this! Anyway, you know how they always say to swatch everything? Well, I should have but I didn't. I am trying to quickly finish the base up so that I can shrink it and see if I like it. If not, then I'm going to have to start over so now I feel pressure to finish this stage quickly. 'sigh' I hope this works, although I think I should have used a double strand. We shall see.

So the lesson this weekend is to think your design all the way through. It doesn't always pay to jump right in and frankly, you'll be happier if you're able to enjoy the process, knowing that it will work as it should with each and every stitch!