So much for being back...

Really, I had intended to be blogging more. I even have a few half finished posts in my head waiting to be typed. However, there is always so much that keeps me away from the computer, or when i have a chance to use it, there are other, more important thingsd to do. Like right now, I have some research that needs doing. That and I just got home from an extremely busy day at work. Oh well.

A lesson in gauge

Always make a gauge swatch, they told me. Don't forget to swatch. Arg. I hate swatching, with a passion. Last motzie shabbos I started a new blanket, and since it's a free form patternless blanket I figured it was the perfect excuse to not swatch, right? WRONG. I had a nice garter border going, then started off in stockinette, noting fancy. a few rows latter it starts to roll. No big deal, stockinette always rolls abit, but it'll even itself out in a few more rows. A week I told myself this, convinced it would be fine. I should know better. Once it rolls, it keeps rolling. I pulled it out yesterday, dejected and sad, but with resolve. Larger needles looser tension, wont be a problem. Wrong again. I cast on far too many stitches, and now it will be to long. Alas, annoying, but a mistake I can live with. I just hope I have enough yarn.

I'm back!

HELLO!!!

I’ve not talked with you in a rather long time. The fault is mine, of course, as I’ve not been on LJ in a rather long time. I got a little caught up in this strange thing called ‘Life’. Fun, yes, though a bit overwhelming and stressful at times. I’ve realized how much I’ve missed the Internet and my friends here though so I am coming back. Yay.

Quick catching up-ness is in order though, I should think, as it’s been close to a year or more since we’ve been in touch.

As of last June I have been working at Macy’s selling glasses, which i have to say is much better than being a cashier at the grocery. It’s both more fun, intellectually stimulating and has a higher pay rate. The down side is, that rather than a 15 minute bike ride, I know must travel about 45 minutes by bus. I can still bike there, when the weather is good, but don’t do so as often as I’d like because at some point on the way I get stressed that I’ll be late. Then again, it’s been a hectic summer, and mornings often felt rushed.
My husband is still in school for computer programming, though he will G-d willing be graduating this May. From there he will be attempting to get an awesome job both because he wants to and because we are expecting our child in December, and finding child care is as yet proving difficult. Should he manage to secure a well paying job, I’ll be able to stay home with the little one until it is old enough to interact with other little ones. In the mean time though, he is working at the local pizza factory, making pizzas and hot dogs. For some reason they decided to make hot dogs now too. No-one is quite sure why, but it’s their company so they can do as they wish, and it gives him a job on days he does not have class, so I can’t complain too much about it.

That in short has been my life for the last while.

Teaching Knitting

A while ago my neighbor asked me to teach her daughter to knit. At first it sounded like a great idea, and then yom tov happened and there was stress. Last week we had our first lesson, and once again it proved to be a great idea. We started with the knit stitch, I decided that casting on can wait until the basic concepts are well engrained in her. She is an extremely fast learner. after showing her maybe three or four stitches in slow motion she was at her on her own, and did the whole row(some 30 stitches) with only minor mistakes. This week we worked on consistency when throwing the yarn as it was a bit of an issues, and next week, I think we'll move on to purling. From there it's a simple matter of pattern reading and combo-stitches, cast-on and bind off.

I'm thinking that I might not have this student for very long, because she will have learned all I know very quickly. It's making me think that maybe I should put out an add to teach other kids. After all, I'm good at knitting, and it'd be a fun way to earn some yarn money.

Scaredy Cat Goes Out

For a few months now, I've been caring for my Alix's cat. (Yes, the Alix with the baby that has no name.) He is the cutest, most annoyingly lovable cat I have yet to encounter. He is also the scarediest cat on the planet. I am not exaggerating. He is afraid of heights, and the dark, scared of the outside, and get super lonely. He also has a tendency to eat to fast and throw up.

Whilst living with us, though, he's gotten much better. He still cries when we turn the lights out and leave him in the living room for the night, but he's thrown up much less, and seems a little less scared. Today we went outside. Not outside, to The Great Outdoors, but outside the apartment. He's been trying to sneak out and explore as I leave for work for a few weeks, so today I took him.

I tried to have him wear his harness and leash, because he's fast. He was having none of it. The moment I put it on he looked at me as if to say 'What is this thing and why is it attached to me'. He would not leave the apartment, or even look at the door. Just stared at me with big sad eyes. The minute I took it off though, ZOOM he was out sniffing the neighbors shoes and checking out the mail box. Until my husband opened the door on his way back from Shul and scared the meow out. He almost cracked his head on the corner of the door trying to get in faster.

Maybe we'll practice a bit with the harness in the apartment and try for The Great Outdoors next week.

I Attended a Home Water Birth, and All I Got Was This Wet T-Shirt

I've been wanting to start blogging again for some time now. However, through out the day I think of fun and interesting things to write, jot them down, and never post them. Then, some time later I think about them again, and realize they are not worthy of being posted.

This time is different. Also, I really am going to make an effort to post more from now one, not that anyone reads this anyway.

Last week, my good friend Alix gave birth to a squishy, broad shouldered boy. I had the honour of being present at the time. Originally the plan was to birth at a local birth center, my role was simply to be occupying the highly energetic 7.5 year old during the events. However, due to government regulations, the birth center is not allowed to be a delivery place for anyone over 42 weeks. Alix ended up being such a case. Thus, a homebirth.

I'll not post all the details, as Martin did a suprisingly good job of it over on his blog. What I will say is that the few weeks leading up to the birth I was very excited and nervious to be asked to help. On the one hand Mira, the 7.5 year old, and I get along superbly well, and it is always fun to spend time with her. On the other, I had never seen a birth, aside from the horrendious misery shown in the popular media. Though I was convinced it would be nothing liek that, I was unsure how unlike it it would be.

Let me say, it is as far from what the media shows as possible. Okay, maybe not quite that far, but definitely as different as egg salad is from pancakes. The environment was extremely calm, except for at the very moment of a contraction, often acompinied by a screaming Alix, and fearful Mira. Aside though, it was all very nice.

I wasn't in the room when the baby was actually born, as Mira had retreated to the basement, and though birthing was taking place at home, and I thus had additional functions of water-grabber and sometimes food-supplier, my main role of Mira-Wrangler was still in play. A few moments after he was born though, I was there and it really was amazing.

There was all of the sudden, a fully functional, fully formed human being, where there had not been one just a fraction of a moment before. Truly there is nothing more magnificent. It is a true miracle that such things happen. Even more so how the human body reacts.

Today was a good day

I hearby declare today a success. I was permitted to leave work early due to the lack of customers due to the nice weather. Also my boss forgot that the doctor is on vacation so we were over staffed, even after she left. This meant I got to run some errands I've been wanting to do. Including but not limited to stoping at the library. Also, riding new busses to new places was much fun. One would think I know this town better than I really do, having lived here my whole life, but no. I pretty much stay in my own area. There is so much to see!!

I did not make it to the grocery store though, so breakfast will once again be Random Food. It was raining, and really I don't fancy waiting for the bus with grocery bags in the rain.

I read, pet the cat, learned some Gemara that went over my head and now I'll do the dishes, clean the hamster cage and groom the cat. Very productive day.

WATER!

Shock of shock, but it's raining. Happily for me, I'm home. Also now my plants will maybe flower into something. I'm looking forward to fresh peas.

The problem with blogging

The problem with blogging is that sometimes a really great blog post comes to mind, but the computer or Internet are inaccessible and thus blogging cannot happen. But by the time it can, the power behind the post is lost and even though the words are there, the emotion isn't and thus it is a pointless exercise. Alas, woah is me.

THe case of the missing placemats

I don't really understand how this happened, but two of my three milchig placemats have disappeared. They were last seen a few days before pasach, and since then no news. I thought I had put them away with all the tablecloths and placemats where they belong in the drawer, but nope, no where to be found. It's getting rather annoying.

Where to blog

Well, I've had Internet again for a while now, and want to start blogging again, not that I have much to say. However, I'm not sure. I have a blog elsewhere that I started in High School, and this one that I started 'when I grew up'. I don't know where to put things, because I don't' know who I want to read what I have to say. Then again, I haven't much to say, so does it matter?

Textured Border Baby Blanket

While finishing a blanket in the presents of Henya, I was told that I must post the pattern. I didn't actually have one, because I was just trying to make something fun, and different. After a time I figured out what I did.


So, here it is, a really easy baby blanket that is perfect for ADD.

If you want to download it on Ravelry, click here.

Materials:

~430 Yards Worsted weight yarn
Half each in colour A and B (I used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Cloud and Merryweather)
Size US10 circular needles in various lengths.
4 stitch markers
Crochet hook


Pattern:

With colour A:

Provisionally cast on 20 stitches.
Knit ~12 rows in Seed Stitch.

Using left hand needle, pick up circumference stitches, for knitting in the round, placing a stitch marker before each corner stitch

Attach colour B:
Knit from between markers. At marker, M1L, move marker, knit 1, M1R. Repeat for each side.
Purl around.
Knit from between markers. At marker, M1L, move marker, knit 1, M1R. Repeat for each side.
Knit around
Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until bored, then do one more increase row, followed by a purl row.
Attach colour A
Knit around, in seed, increasing every other row, just as for colour B.
Continue until bored, than repeat colour B.

Alternate between colours A and B until you feel the blanket is big enough, or you are sick of it, knit one round and bind off using Crochet bind off, in the opposite colour.

Gently wash the blanket in cold water with your favorite wool wash or shampoo. Dry and block by placing a few pins to secure each corner. Don’t secure the sides, as this will give it a better drape.