This Week

This week has been a mix of summer and fall for us- we are still out in the garden so much (and now have so. many. tomatoes.) and swimming and baseball is still being played, but we are also busy with school and I'm easing back into work with a half time start next week and back to the full schedule the week after.

On the Needles... 

I'm working on those cardigan sleeves in bits. The lack of portability is really getting to me, but I'm going to set up with it on the couch in the school room and while my boys are reading and going through snap circuit experiments like crazy I can maybe get a few rounds in.

I read...

I'm reading Enchanted by Alethea Kontis.

Just Keep Spinning…

I've been ignoring the spindle for the most part this week as I work on cardigan sleeves, but I'm ready to ply and may do that some through the weekend when I need a break from round and round on the sleeves.

Learning all the time…

We are listening to Tales from the Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne. I found a wonderful recording at our library read by a Shakespearean actor and it is absolutely gorgeous. The boys listened happily on Wednesday for almost 2 hours as we went to and from a field trip and on a few errands. and when we found ourselves back in the car yesterday they both asked for the Odyssey before I'd even started the car.

A mild warning: there is talk in the book about people dying, being eaten by giants and all those sorts of things that are part of the *actual* Odyssey, so if your child will be alarmed by those types of events it may not be a good listen for your family. My boys understand that death is part of this world and the author doesn't go out of her way to make the deaths overly gruesome. I also really appreciate the emphasis the author places on the grief the men share over losing a comrade to disaster or monster. She does a wonderful job of continually reminding the reader/listener that Odysseus goes through all of these trials because he so desperately wants to get home to his family.

In the Kitchen...

Because of crazy amounts of tomatoes I have plans to roast tomatoes in the oven either today or tomorrow a la Food in Jars. And hopefully make pickles today or tomorrow.

Inspiration...

I'm looking for wall inspiration. We have now lived in our house for a year and a half and I have nothing on the walls. I'd like to change that, but it's not a thing I'm very good at. We did recently have some family photos taken and those are going up on the wall for sure, but that will only be one wall and this house has many... I'm collecting links on pinterest on my At Home board.

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

Just Masterchef and Project Runway at the moment. We don't have a lot of shows we watch as they air, but there are a few new shows coming out that we are excited about, specifically Agents of SHIELD. *love* Agent Coulson.

Listening...

I've had a hard time getting podcasts in aside from the Knitmore Girls lately. I have so many podcasts to catch up on!

This weekend...

We have the weekend off from baseball so depending on weather we are going to be out in the garden, I have canning and knitting plans and the boys have some sort of "do as many science experiments as we can in one day" conspiracy going for tomorrow. 

This Week

This week was focused mostly on school. We worked on a re-do/organizing of the school room, I ordered most of our books for the year and have been spending free time setting up our schedule for the next several months. I had to tell the boys to keep their paws off all the new books for just a little bit longer until we start school

On the Needles...

My Doctor Who Kernel (which hopefully will make it beyond cast on this weekend) and Ellie's Stripey Cardigan. I won't be knitting a lot this weekend, because of finishing up with Tour de Fleece, but maybe a little bit of progress.

I read...

Ready Player One and working my way through the Spinners book of Yarn Designs

Just Keep Spinning…

I'm working in little bits on plying all my singles. It really stresses my left elbow for some reason, so I can only ply for short time periods before I lose feeling in my fingers. I'm trying to use my right hand a lot more, but it's still awkward, so plying is slow moving right now.

Learning all the time…

This month we are *off* from school so that I can get organized and we can start again in August. I'm about half way ready, and hopefully come August 5th I'll be all the way ready.

Garden...

It looks like we will soon have a few jalepenos to pick and some pickling cucumbers also. We have never made pickles before much less grown our own, so we're all pretty excited about how great they are looking. Tomatoes are popping up, but none ready to pick quite yet.

I didn't get to...

Sadly, Kids Clothes Week. I have 2 patterns cut out, but have only made it to the machine once this week and didn't accomplish much while I was there. This week just turned out to be a LOT busier than I had anticipated. I haven't even had my usual knitting time available, so sneaking sewing time in this week just hasn't happened.

This weekend...

Family will be in town, so we're planning on a lot of fun with cousins!

This Week

After a relatively quiet week activity wise, the boys told me they're "almost ready for school again"... emphasis on almost. We're keeping things pretty quiet for another week or two, then 1 week of day camp before we start back to school in early August.

On the Needles...

I'm still working on Ellie's cardigan, and I did cast on for Kernel- though it won't get very much attention until after Tour de Fleece. 

I read...

I started Ready Player One just the other day, but reading is slow right now until I get the Tour is over since I can't read while I spin. The boys are really reading a lot right now- to the point they are making specific requests from the library and we have had to make a few extra trips to the library in addition to our usual library trips. To be honest, I wasn't sure a day would ever come that I would have to tell one of my boys to "stop reading and go play oustide for awhile" but it happened this summer.

Just Keep Spinning…

I made 2 plying balls last night and I'm spinning the last portion of fiber. I'm so close to being able to start plying!

Learning all the time…

I ordered the remainder of our books for this year last night, next week I'll be able to set the rest of our plans up, and we'll be ready to start our year in August! I'm excited, particularly about several of our science selections. 

Garden...

We have some little tomatoes and jalapenos started on the plants, but nothing to pick quite yet. My mom has had a handful of cherry tomatoes in the last few days, so I know we're getting close too!

In Stitches...

I'm in for next week's edition of Kid's Clothes Week- are you? They have a pretty new site this time and it is lovely to navigate for inspiration! You create an account, sign up for the challenge and set up your sewing line up for the week. This challenge is running at the same time as Tour de Fleece obviously, so I'm petty sure knitting is going out the window for 1 week. How I would love a time-stretcher to give me an hour or two more in the day!

This weekend...

The boys of the family are heading out on a manly camping trip and us girls are staying in for a fiber/fabric weekend. Well, I am. I'm sure Ellie will be playing with baby dolls and trying to steal my fiber and eating all the snacks she can get her hands on.

This Week

This is the last week of baseball. Three more games over the weekend and 2 team parties will finish the season out nicely. I'm so thankful for great coaches and the parents who have all been awesome at remembering that these kids are just kids looking to have a fun time and play some ball. 

On the Needles...

I finished the Boneyard Shawl last night and I'm hoping to get a moment to gently block it over the weekend, but that may be wishful thinking- Monday is far more likely I think. I picked up the Spring Cardigan I cast on for Ellie a few weeks ago and after a bit of thinking ripped back the 2 inches on the needles and started again. I have a much firmer idea of what direction I want it to go, and now I'm happy with this start.

Also on the needles but out of active rotation are the Grey and Coral socks. I'll get back to them when I'm in need of some mindless knitting.

I read...

I mentioned on Wednesday that I'm close to finishing Game of Thrones- since Wednesday I'm no closer to the end. Hopefully I will finish it this weekend and then on to Ready Player One.

Just Keep Spinning…

I pulled out my spindle yesterday and got everything ready for Tour de Fleece. My goal is small: to spin 15 minutes a day on every day the cyclists ride. I can spin longer if I'd like, but 15 minutes is the minimum. Ender and I were talking about the Tour yesterday and I suggested that he might work on his knitting for 15 minutes each day while I spin. He told me he'd think about it, but I haven't heard back. :)

Learning all the time…

The boys took a full week off from everything except for free reading. No math, no phonics... and they were very happy. I've decided we're going to continue to school very lightly through July and then really start in August. They've been really faithful in the small amount of school work I've asked them to do through the month of June and this current schedule is really suiting our summer lives.

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

We are watching through Big Bang Theory from the beginning again and this time Brian is making a game of noticing all the things Sheldon does that are not quite in keeping with his character. We've also been watching all the extras for each season (cast and creator interviews, gag reels, "making of" specials, etc.) because we're geeks like that.

On a slightly related note, at one of our favorite take-out places the folks there refer to my husband as "the Bazinga guy" because Brian apparently wears his "Bazinga" shirt pretty much every time we happen to get take-out there.

Listening...

I've mostly been trying to catch up on some of my knitting podcasts, but I'm still woefully behind. I loaded my Ipod last night so that I can listen during a marathon cleaning session I have planned for the baby's naptime.

Garden...

With the crazy thunderstorms we've had lately, the plants are looking a bit battered, but I haven't lost anything beyond the strawberries yet. I'm hoping to get the strawberry transplants from my mom very soon.

In Stitches...

I have a giant pile of cut fabric on my dining table and can now move on to actually putting some things together. The boys are mostly excited because the pile includes a pair of pajamas for each of them that they have been long begging for.

This weekend...

3 baseball games, 2 team parties, Maker Faire, and the church picnic- aka our last weekend of "crazy" for the summer. After this there are plans for camping, going to see family, and maybe sleeping in if I can talk the baby in to it.

This Week

This was a good week. I finished many of the projects I had on my list this week for around the house as well as getting to finish two knitting projects and the kids were pretty cooperative about the whole thing, even when it came down to doing the harder things like working on getting our school room in shape before we officially start our next school year. Next week I'll start working the summer session in the studio and that will change our summer days a little bit.

On the Needles...

I finished the purple socks Tuesday night and last night finally finished seaming a little purple February Baby Sweater I made for Ellie before she was born. It's still a bit large on her, but will be a good little cardi for when we're in places with AC that leave her a little chilly. I'll put up a proper FO post as soon as I can get some photos of it.

I also cast on a new cardigan for Ellie that I'm kind of making up on the fly. If it works out okay I'll share here- if you never hear about it again go ahead and assume that I'd rather not talk about it.

I read...

I'm a lot farther in Game of Thrones after a long read last night, and my brother sent me a book called Ready Player One to read next.

The boys finished their first challenge for the library's summer reading program- Ender has to read for 360 minutes to earn a reward, and Ezra has to listen to 24 books to earn a reward. The rewards are paperbacks for the first 2 times they finish their goal and on the third time through their goal they can earn another paperback or a science kit. Ender is desperately eyeing the geology kit for his end prize.

Ezra and I have been plowing through picture books together. He was right on the edge of being able to choose whether he had to read for minutes like Ender does or be read to and I felt like asking him to do all of the reading himself would just be too much. I do want him to read some on his own though, so we compromise and he reads a page or so, then I read some. Sometimes he'll read a whole book on his own and we'll count that too. He's still very much trying to gain fluency and making him read that much on his own would have been really hard this year after the initial excitement wore off. 

Just Keep Spinning…

I'm planning to spend some time with the spindle this weekend (hopefully even today) to get back in shape before Tour de Fleece kicks off June 30. My goal for the tour is just to spin every day and keep gaining consistency.

Learning all the time…

One of my projects this week was to really nail down our schooling needs for the next 6 months so that I can spend time putting together our plan and order materials. I like for most of our schooling budget to go towards art supplies and real books and not curriculum unless that curriculum 100% serves our purpose and fits our learning philosophy. Now that I think I've got a good list made I'm going to sit on it for a week or so before ordering.

In the Kitchen...

We're finishing up the last of much of last summer/fall's canning work. We're down to our last jar of blackberry jam, and the strawberry canning is almost gone too. We still have a lot of sliced pears from last year, but the boys have been going through at least a jar a day over the last few weeks.

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I finally got a chance to watch through Vikings on the DVR over the last few weeks and I just didn't get into it the way I usually do with historical dramas. Tonight we're planning a trip to the theater to see Man of Steel and I'm hoping it's as good as it looks.

Garden...

Everything is looking good in the garden so far. We go out after breakfast to check on the state of our little plants and look forward to the product of our labor. My mom called me yesterday to beg me to take some of her strawberry plants off her hands so I may get a chance to do that tomorrow. We have just 3 of our own and she's hoping we'll take at least 10-15. I'm not sure I have the room for that but I'm going to go back out today to measure and see what we can do.

In Stitches...

With no baseball games this weekend I feel like all sorts of free time appeared! I'm planning to spend some time sewing tomorrow, hopefully a little skirt or two for Ellie. I'm also reading up on some tutorials about working with knits since that is one kind of sewing I'd love to do. I've always been a little afraid of it and I need to just get over it.

This weekend... 

Sewing time, birthday celebrating, and hopefully a whole lot of knitting!

This Week

Phew! I think we're finally back in shape. Yesterday was the first true "completely back to normal" day where I wasn't running around trying to finish up trip-related cleaning/picking up and Ellie was completely back to her normal sleeping/eating schedule. We even got some reading time in as a little bonus!

Right before we left I cut off all of my hair. It was a little past my shoulders before...

And way above my shoulders after...

Still getting used to it, but so quick to get ready in the mornings!

On the Needles...

Finishing the toe of the second purple sock, getting a little more leg into the first grey/coral sock, and contemplating a little hat to go along with my new little niece's cardigan.

I read...

I finished The Son by Lois Lowry and I am now a few chapters into Game of Thrones.

Just Keep Spinning…

I'm going to start spinning about 15 minutes at a time again this weekend in preparation for Tour de Fleece. My goal for the Tour is just to spin every day that they ride, whether for 10 minutes or longer, and I have no yardage goal at all. Just to spin, spin, and spin some more.

Learning all the time…

I'm really digging the homework grid for the this relaxed month in our homeschool. The boys work on 1 or 2 squares off of their grid every day- it gives them something productive to do and gives me a little time to focus on my own project during that precious afternoon nap time of Ellie's.

In the Kitchen...

I made steamed artichokes the other day for the boys to try and they were not amused. At least they tried it, though. Right?

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I'm so glad that Masterchef is back! I only watch reality television if Gordon Ramsay is involved, and this is my favorite. Brian and I are also finishing up season 6 of The Big Bang Theory and are going to be so very sad when it's done! We're just not used to waiting for shows to actually air on television.

Listening...

I caught up on the Knitmores this week while working around the house.

Garden...

FINALLY a patch of like 3 days where there are no torrential downpours! I'm spending my day today putting things into our little garden patch and then shall spend the rest of the month hoping that I don't lose it all in the rain that is supposed to carry on like crazy for who knows how long.

In Stitches...

I have a little sewing class tucked in between baseball games this Saturday. I'm needing a little crafty break lately and this will be just the thing!

I didn't get to...

There is work to be caught up, knitting and sewing and a bunch of books just begging to be read, but they will have to wait just a bit more until I have a chance to be in the kitchen. I bought yummy things at the grocery the other day and I would like to eat them. And enjoy them. 

This weekend...

4 (!!!) baseball games, a sewing class, and garden time. Maybe I can steal a few minutes to figure out how something on my new camera works?

This Week

This past week was our first week of "summer break"- the kind where I'm not working at all and we're figuring out a different groove for the summer months. We get about a month to get used to the schedule before I start teaching the summer session (which is tremendously lighter than the school year) and by then we usually know what's going on. This week we worked on catching up the house and laundry so that we can get along with the business of summer.

On the Needles...

Finishing the purple socks, and swatching for a few things to decide what to take for travel knitting. 

I read...

I've been working on our next set of school plans for the last few weeks so I've mostly been immersed in The Well Trained Mind. I started Son by Lois Lowry last night.

Learning all the time…

We're in "grid mode" for school right now along with keeping up on reading and math for the summer months. The grid is 5x5, and in each box is an activity based around a schooly area- reading, geography, science, etc.

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I finished the last 2 episodes of this season's Doctor Who, and !!!!!! I saved this whole season on the DVR and plan to re-watch over the summer, and probably again just before the next episodes come out. I keep trying to talk Brian into watching Doctor Who with me and he made it up to the second episode of David Tennant before stalling out. I really need someone to discuss episodes with!

Listening...

As always, I listened to the most recent episode for the lovely Knitmoregirls, and I also caught up on the last several episodes of cogKNITive. I took my first listens of the SpinDoctor podcast and really enjoyed it

Garden...

I've planted a LOT of flowers and pulled out a LOT of dead things. The space is tilled for the vegetable garden, but I haven't had the chance to plant out there yet. I will get going on that shortly.

In Stitches...

A funny thing happened last week. My mom quilts professionally and got swamped with so much long-arm work that she passed on a project to me to finish! She had been making pajamas for my kids and got all the way to the hemming before deciding she'd have to put them away for the time being so that she could get her paid work completed. I guess my boys asked so frequently about when they would be finished that she gave them to me to take care of since she can't get to them probably until August. And by then my boys will have asked her a MILLION times if they were done yet.

This is why I rarely tell them before I make something for them- they will harass you for ages to finish. They want their handmades and they want them now!



I didn't get to...

I think I can say that I got all the necessities crossed off my list for this week. YAY! That so rarely happens, but now we are ready to get properly started on summer.

This weekend...

I'm afraid my brain is stuck on sun and sand. :)

This Week (or two...)

 

We woke up to this on Friday. It started with a bit of sleet Thursday night around dinner and just a few flakes, but by morning- this.

This is quite unusual for our area at this time of the year. We were literally wearing shorts and tank tops on Wednesday and then Thursday was hovering at 40F. We missed our baseball and soccer games today and I'm pretty sure tomorrow's games will be cancelled as well due to all the standing water and the fact that the weather still hasn't sorted itself out by now.

In the past 2 weeks we celebrated a certain little girl's birthday with cake (that she totally didn't like) and her favorite cut up fruits. She is *running* everywhere now and has quite a sense of humor now. Seeing her personality develop is such a treat.

On the Needles...

This is the fun turn in my crafting narrative. For the last month I have been dealing with a severe resurgence of tendonitis in my left elbow that pretty much keeps me from doing well, everything. I haven't been able to knit, or play my instruments or type 2-handed in ages. I'm finally recovering full feeling in my ring and pinky fingers, but working really hard to get it managed and get back to normal since I make my living as a violinist. I'm working 2 more weeks in the studio and then intending to fully rest my arm for the 4 weeks between the school year and summer sessions.  

I read...

The boys and I just started Trumpet of the Swan together. 

And this will be the place where I can let you know that Ender has read three short-ish chapter books in just the last week and I'm soooo excited for him- and at the same time trying not to let on to him too much about my excitement. He tends to frown upon anything I give more attention to than a passing "Oh, that's cool" comment, so I'm trying to dial it down. I have been seriously worried that he would never really be a reader, and over the last few months that has definitely been changing. LOVE it!

Learning all the time…

I'm working hard on plans for our next homeschool term (which we will start in July). We'll be finished with "regular" school days in about 2 weeks and from there we will just continue grid-work, math and reading until after July 4.

Inspiration...

I'm paying attention to Fiber Factor and wishing I had just a little more time lately (as well as a fully functioning arm) to participate unofficially. What a fun contest!

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

With Brian: Big Bang Theory, season 2

On My Own: current Doctor Who (!!!)

and David Tennant's episodes with Ender a little at a time.

Listening...

to the lovely Knitmore Girls and many back episodes of the Nerdist.

Garden...

We planted a bunch of flowers in the front beds last weekend before we knew about the whole "snow in May thing". So that was a lot of... well, moving on. 

In Stitches...

I participated as I could for KCW: Spring and came out with cut pieces for 2 tops and a dress for Ellie and one completely finished dress that I need to try to get pictures of. I had to really try to remember looking at everyone else's work that while I know how to sew and sew sometimes, I'm not really a sewist when it comes down to it. I don't love sewing like so many others do- I truly am a knitter at heart. So for me? I got a heck of a lot done last week in my 7ish hours. Not a lot in the finished category, but enough fire in me to try to keep up at least an hour or two a week with the sewing machine.

This weekend... 

We spent today at home thanks to cancelled baseball and soccer. So a few chores, a bit of movie time, and I spent a good amount of time on planning school for next year. Great day. :)

This Week

I'd love to say that this has been a smooth and relaxing week, and it truly did start out that way. But since Monday afternoon Boston has been weighing heavy on my heart and I've had to very actively shut out information for periods of time.

We were able to go on a few field trips this week, catch up on the house (and laundry!) and I even got back to my sewing machine a little bit in the evenings. 

On the Needles... 

I've been ignoring the newest knit- partly because of the issues I've been having with it and partly because I've been spending my project time sewing. I do need to weave ends on a baby gift in the next few days and knit a little companion hat.

I read...

So many news stories it's ridiculous. Ender read The Bears on Hemlock Mountain in just 2 sittings. He's getting to be such a fast reader now and needing more material. I spent a little time making him a new book list this week.

Learning all the time…

We are in "finish up" mode. We're close to the end of all of our "dailies" (like Explode the Code, Handwriting without Tears and math workbooks) and I told the boys that they can have a break from most of school (except from math because I'm that mean mom) until July as soon as they finish up- the timeline is up to them. IF they continue forward as planned they'll finish around Memorial Day. Ender has big plans to attempt to be finished in just 2 weeks.We still have history to read, but any time now spring will actually show up and we'll switch over to a big science block to put in the garden and work out there.

Inspiration...

I'm planning to spend at least 1 hour a day on Kids Clothes Week making a few things for Ellie. I already started in the last day or so, but the KCW project officially starts on Monday. Will you join us?

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I've mostly been tuned to the news once my kids are in bed, but I've also been watching the current season of Project Runway (I'm a little behind, so no spoilers please!) to relax my brain a bit. It's been interesting to see relationships develop between designers so differently this season due to the teams. I think I'm down to 2 more episodes to be completely caught up.

Garden...

We are waiting.

And waiting.

It is so cold at night still and most of the week has been a torrential downpour. I think next week we will build a few boxes for raised beds, and I'm really hoping to be able to plant some in early May.

In Stitches...

I actually touched my machine this past week! I didn't forget how to do anything (which was a surprise) and I made a little dress. Of course, I had to rip out a few times because I made silly errors, but over all not a bad first run back at the machine. Ellie got a "slightly off but still very wearable" dress out of the deal and I learned how to make a pattern so that I can make her several spring/summer dresses.

This weekend...

A Soccer game and a baseball practice, time with my sewing machine in the evenings and lots of time with the baby and my not-so-little-anymore boys.

This Week

The past week or so is the first length of time where I could apply the word "normal" after having illness in the house for so long. I think we caught up on pretty much everything but laundry- but when is that ever really caught up? We got back to a normal amount of school work too, and that was a bit rough. After having the better part of 3-ish weeks either completely off or only keeping up on math and reading, going back to the full schedule seemed a little rude to the boys.

I swear the last few days completely vanished. I'm not entirely sure that they actually happened, to be honest. It's been a blur of lots and lots of lessons and extra lessons for a few coming twice in one week to be extra sure they are ready for this weekend's recital.

And now you know where my brain has been- on recital. Just a few more days until that big day, and then there will be 7 full days with no students and no work schedule- just a few adventures the kids and I have planned.

On the Needles...

My knitting time has been more limited than usual so I'm still finishing up the little February Baby Sweater for my soon-expected niece. I am looking forward to starting something new, though. Do I make myself finish a Shapely Boyfriend sleeve first? Maybe...

I read...

I finished Julie of the Wolves and I got a copy of Sally Melville's latest book to savor over the next few months. I've been keeping myself from jumping right in, because I know I won't want to emerge for many hours.

Learning all the time…

April is the month of school related deal making. It's when I find myself saying things like, "if you do double math every day this week we can take extra time off in May..." and other things like that. The funny thing is, this time Ender actually took me up on it and said that he wants to finish his math book by the end of April so that he can take all of May and June off. I told him that was fine by me as long as he does xtramath during his months off. And because he loves xtramath a deal was made and he's already made himself a chart of how much he has to do each day to finish in time for his goal.

In the Kitchen...

I think I made my last round of semi-pureed baby food Monday night. Ellie is really mostly on table foods already, but some foods she likes as purees haven't quite made it into her rotation on the tray yet in their whole form (like broccoli).

Inspiration...

I'm aiming to start working on a few sewn things for the kids in the next few weeks if I can get myself together in time for Kids Clothes Week. People are pinning some very lovely things on the KCW boards.

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

After approximately 1 million people told us we should, we finally watched the first season of Big Bang Theory. And it was hilarious- except for watching Leslie and Leonard play the violin and cello in one episode. That was painful. I have learned to never watch when a t.v. character "plays" a string instrument. It's always terrible. I've been told that Benedict Cumberbatch "plays" a respectable fake violin in Sherlock, but I'm not that far in the series yet.

Garden... 

If it ever decides to stay above 50F here for more than 3 days in a row, I'll get going on this category. The plans are made, most everything is ready, we're just waiting on the weather to make up its mind about what season we're in.

This weekend...

Recital weekend! So I will see you guys again next week after my brain has cleared of all things recital.

This Week

Posting quickly as today is Good Friday and we will be occupied through the weekend. Everyone is better except for me at this point. I was hoping to be mostly back to normal by today, but now I'm hoping for Easter. Life just doesn't run very well when the Mama is sick. It has been a lesson in the family pulling together for everything to be ready for this weekend, and I can gladly say it has come together, even if the food may end up a little less homemade than I'd like.

On the Needles...

Just the little February Baby Sweater I'm working on for a soon-expected niece. With being sick this week there hasn't been much progress, but I'm ready to start the sleeves as soon as I can stay awake in the evenings after the kids are in bed.

I read...

I read Hatchet early in the week and I'm reading Julie of the Wolves at the moment. I'm having a hard time understanding why Julie of the Wolves is classified as a juvenile novel instead of a YA novel considering some of the elements involved.

Learning all the time…

Just the basics this week, I'm afraid. I just couldn't manage more, but didn't want to lose a full week of school.

In the Kitchen...

Chicken noodle soup, anyone? That has been the mainstay of the week. I made a gigantic batch last time I made it and froze a ton- it was wonderful to be able to pull it from the freezer this week.

Inspiration...

I'm so excited about Sally Melville's new book! I'm waiting for it to show up in my mailbox- hopefully Monday!

I'm also collecting technique tutorials on my Knitting/Spinning Pinterest page. Do you have any tutorials you have found invaluable?

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I've been vaguely aware of basketball games being watched in our house, but mostly I've been sleeping. I did manage a Doctor Who episode the other night.

Garden...

We are still waiting for snow to melt. We are getting some more normal temperatures for this time of year the last few days, but we're supposed to drop back to around freezing again on Monday. All the plants around here are really confused.

I didn't get to...

So many things, but it will all have to wait for days where I am closer to fully functional.

This weekend...

It is Easter weekend, and Ellie's first Easter, so we are quite full. I am truly hopeful to be mostly better by Sunday.

This Week

I mentioned in posts earlier this week that the kids have been sick for the last two weeks and this eek we've been enjoying some good health. Unfortunately it's no longer true. Ellie and Ezra have been sick again for the last few days and I got dragged into it last night as well. Add to this another snow storm expected over  the weekend and the word on my mind is STOP. No more sickies, no more snow. It has all been enough!

On the Needles... 

I shared my most recent finished objects on Wednesday- Baby Vertebrae and Little Scapulae, both for Ellie. I'm still working on the February Baby Sweater for the little niece we are expecting in May/June. I also have my Yearly Socks still going as well as my Shapely Boyfriend Sweater still awaiting 2 sleeves. I'm starting to think the problem with those sleeves is that the project is too large to be portable now and that keeps me from working forward. I'm considering reverse engineering the sleeves and knitting them away from the body and then attaching with a 3 needle bind off.

I read...

I picked up several juvenile novels at the library last week to begin pre-reading for next school year's read alongs. Hatchet made it into my bag, which I haven't read since about 5th grade and now I remember why it's an older elementary read. I also have My side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves waiting for me.

Learning all the time… 

I'm prepping for next year already. We start our school year in July and school more or less year round. I like to have everything set and ready to go by May. A great tool for me in planning has been Half A Hundred Acre Wood, which has an excellent collection of supplemental materials to Classical Conversations.

Inspiration...

I've been adding tutorials to my Knitting and Spinning Pinterest board over the last few weeks.

I'm also thinking about the Kids Clothes Week at the end of April- a week earlier and I wouldn't be working... but maybe I can still participate?

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

Doctor Who again, starting with the David Tennant episodes. 10 is my favorite Doctor. :)

This weekend...

We are staying home- between illness and snowstorm, no sense in attempting anything else.

And one more quick little thing... Google Reader is going away soon. I've moved all of my favorites over to Bloglovin. Join me there? Follow my blog with Bloglovin

This Week

The silence in this space is due mostly to us having the icky-sickies around here for the better part of two weeks. We are fortunate to have a great children's urgent care available to us, which little Miss Ellie needed for fluids. Dehydration is such a wicked thing in babies! She is perfectly fine now and playing like nothing happened. I, on the other hand, am *still* trying to catch up on the sleep I missed during this whole debacle.

On the Needles...

I finished Ellie's pink cardigan last week on Tuesday and immediately cast on for a little shrug to wear with her Easter dress. I finished that cute little thing on Tuesday this week (dare I dub Tuesday "finishing day"?) and now I need to actually finish them- as in weaving ends and blocking. I'm trying to decide what to do next. I know I really should buckle down and finish the sleeves on my Shapely Boyfriend cardi, but I don't think that project has marinated long enough yet.

I read...

Very little. I lost my reading mojo a bit because I'm wiped out these days and falling asleep way too soon after the kids go to bed. I have a Brandon Sanderson book on my nightstand to read (recommended by my husband) but haven't gotten more than a few pages in before falling asleep. Totally not a slam against the book- that's just how tired I am.

Just Keep Spinning…

I have done very little spinning. My left shoulder is aggravated again, which always happens at this time of the year. Because of contest and recital prep for all of my students I'm playing and teaching a lot more than usual and my shoulder likes to cause problems for about 6 weeks. When you add in knitting and spinning time, plus all the time that I carry the baby, my shoulder complains. A LOT. 

I stopped spinning as soon as my shoulder started to bother me this time and spent 10 days resting it outside of work commitments. I started back just a little bit on Tuesday night and I'll try again for about 15 minutes tonight. As long as it continues to be stress-free in my shoulder I'll get back to my 15 minutes on most days.

Learning all the time…

We got back to a normal work schedule this week and we're trying a grid for Ender to mark off his work as he does it each day. I've always kept my own copy of our plan and made sure we accomplished everything, but I was hoping that it would help Ender to have some control over the order of his school day. So far it's been a hit. Ezra even asked for his own grid.

In the Kitchen...

I have a new refrigerator! We have been without a working fridge for the last 4 weeks while they tried to repair the old one under the warranty. Last week the repairman declared the fridge "un-repairable" (not my word) and the company is issuing a refund. I've never been so thankful for a warranty!

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

We started watching the new History Channel show The Bible. It definitely skims through the main stories, but so far I think the tone has been respectful. We're looking forward to more.

About the Littles... 

Little Miss Ellie has decided to walk. It was just a little test step at first and we kept telling ourselves it was accidental. but now she's taking 6-8 steps at a time and standing herself up in the middle of the room without holding on. And now I realize we have to actually admit she can walk. Not too long until she's a serious toddler...

Listening...

My Ipod shuffle died a few weeks ago and after complaining often about not being able to listen to podcasts and music while running, I finally bought another one. As Brian said, "I'm not really sure why you waited so long. You use it all the time."

I didn't get to...

A lot of things with all the sickness, but nothing super important. Laundry can always wait, right?

This weekend...

The first soccer game of the season, church, a library trip and if the weather holds up we'll be outside prepping for this year's garden.

This Week

We received our second foot of snow within 5 days (which just doesn't happen around here) so this week has been incredibly strange- the city was pretty much shut down on Tuesday and some of Wednesday if you were in our part of the city. So I taught parts of 2 days and 1 whole day, but it was all very weird since so much of it was rescheduled from the snow days.

Ellie has been sick for a long while and this week got worse with a fever and other fun things- now it is an infection to fight off. The amazing thing to me is that she is still so very good-natured through most of this, still able to play and make the little jokes that babies make. It made her two really bad days this week that much more pronounced- to see our little happy girl so tired and whimpering was quite the sad sight. I'm glad she's on the mend now.

On the Needles...

I almost finished the first sleeve of Ellie's pink Baby Vertebrae cardi last night. A little more work tonight and it will be done and I will be on to the second sleeve. 

My "in my purse" knitting I take everywhere is a Looped Loop cowl in a really pretty mustard yellow.

Once I finish Ellie's cardi I'm going to force myself to focus on the sleeves of my Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan and get those out. If I would have just done those darn sleeves right away I'd be wearing that cardigan right now.

I also may have cast on for a shawl because I was feeling a serious lace itch earlier this week... 

I read...

Mysterious Benedict Society, An Everlasting Meal, and the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. Reading time has been hard to find lately, so I made only the smallest bit of progress this week.

Just Keep Spinning…

I shared my 2nd skein here yesterday and I'm working on that red wool blend still. I have a hard time stopping when I get started spinning this particular fiber. It is really easy for me to say "Just one more hand length" and then find myself saying that 10 times in a row when I *really* need to be getting to bed instead. Part of the enthusiasm is for the fiber, and partly because I can see such a difference in how well my singles are going now. There is still a lot to polish and work on to truly get them consistent, but I'm very pleased with the progress.

I've also been reading a ton on the Ravelry forums and on abbysyarns.com.

Learning all the time…

I worked on a unit based on Roxaboxen to start next week and had a great time putting together a pack of "homework" for Ender for a trip. More on that later!

I didn't get to...

A lot of things with the sick baby this week, but that was okay. Sometimes it just works out that way.

This weekend...

I'm planning to catching up a bit over the weekend on the cleaning and laundry. Exciting, I know. Hopefully Ellie will be feeling well enough that I'll get an evening or two with consecutive hours to spin or knit.