Chuck E. Cheese

My friend Heather also has a 4-year-old daughter, Kaila, and despite all the Chuck E. horror stories we enjoy taking the kids there. Today seemed like a good day for a get-together so it was off to Hickory Hollow.



The food is not that bad (grilled chicken ciabatta sandwich & salad bar are good) and we can sit & visit, talk, knit (me), and crochet (Heather) while the girls get rid of some energy in a safe place. They stamp our hands with a number and the kids can only leave with the matching adult.

Rachel and Kaila love it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Hearts Day! I finished one of the "Fetching" fingerless mitts last night and I am happy with it. If I make another pair for me I might add a few rows near the end. I'm not sure where on the hand they are designed to end, but they feel a little short to me. But then, my hands are a bit bigger than average I think. I also cast on Square#3 for the Lizard Ridge afghan--photo coming soon.

I am very excited to be going downtown today to see my friend David at Falcon Feather Fibers. He is teaching a sock class today and a few of the SnBers are going. Falcon Feather is run by an amazing woman named Phyllis and it is sort of a fibers-based community center. They have a gorgeous studio where they will hold workshops and classes and they work with some of the neighborhood young people. I really admire the desire to build community through artistic pursuits. I think their website is still under construction, but keep an eye out. I think Phyllis will be planning a lot of fun things to see & do down there.

And the Knits Keep On Coming

I finished the Calorimetry headband the night of the 9th. Now all it needs is a cool button and it's complete!




I am also having a great time with the Fetching mitts. I love doing cables! It's really fun. Another new addiction. I've already promised a pair of these to my sister-in-law Jennifer. The yarn is really yummy, too. These are for me (a rare thing) and I can't wait to wear them!

I am still in stockinette h**l on Angus' sweater, but I'll get the two or three inches left on the body finished and then I can start the sleeves. I am making the 10-12 size and it's a lot of knitting! Baby stuff definitely goes a lot faster.

Back to Regular Programming...

In between bouts of grieving for Da Bears, stressing over where to send Rachel for Pre-K and running to my physical therapy appointments for my "frozen shoulder"--I have also been knitting! Here's what's going on with the UFOs:

Found out at a SnB this week that I made a mistake in the Calorimetry pattern. I went home, completely ripped it out and started over. I am back to the midway point & here's what it looks like. I am using ArtYarns Handpaint Stripes in 100% merino, colorway 101. I don't know what they do to wool these days, but I am just amazed by the softness of this yarn. Plus, it's machine washable; a nice feature in a headband I think.


I am also continuing to work on the Lizard Ridge afghan. Here is block #2. These colors aren't as dramatic as those in the first block, but when there are more I think they will all work together. I have enough Kureyon for two more squares so check back for the next installment.


Here is a sneak peek at some upcoming projects:

First, the yarn for my Fetching fingerless mitts (free pattern on the Knitty website). It was really hard choosing a color for these, but the Cascade Cash Vero is getting rave reviews. If the pattern is as much fun as everyone says it is maybe I'll be making more and I can get one of those other colors...

This yarn is "Flurries" by Tilli Tomas. It is also 100% wool with glass beads already on it. Sheila Weinberger of Threaded Bliss designed the pattern you see here. Another beautiful yarn I can't wait to use! Thanks, Sheila! Checkout the link in the left column to see her website.
Finally, this is the Cascade 220 I purchased to make the Ayla felted mini backpack for Rachel. This pattern is also on the current Knitty pattern page. See the finished product: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTayla.html Pink & purple for Rachel, knocking out colorwork and felting for me--a match made in heaven!

Father & Daughter

Father & Daughter
Originally uploaded by catherined807.

My Photo of the Day. Just wanted to share this sweet Father-Daughter moment. I love seeing Rachel & Doug together...

Yes, I know the Bears lost the Super Bowl. More on that subject when I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Sob.

Super Bowl Sunday

We are about three hours from the Super Bowl Kickoff and there's still food prep to do, but I wanted to share some pics from last night. Our "first place in the NHL" Nashville Predators played the Anaheim (no longer Mighty) Ducks last night and we were there to witness the 3-o shutout. It was an exciting game--very physical with a lot of hard hits & fights.

It was Hat Night and we all enjoyed sporting our free hats.

Rachel is getting into the games more and more, joining in the fan chants and doing "Fang Fingers" (see photo) when the Preds go on the Power Play. Rachel said, "It was the best game ever!"

Tabletop Snowmen

I already posted today, but Rachel just called me downstairs to see her snowmen and I thought they were so cute I couldn't resist sharing them. Gotta love those Mr. Potato Head parts.

Heehee.

Super Bowl XLI

By yesterday afternoon the snow was pretty much gone. The clouds had moved on and the sky was bright blue again. One of the things I really love about Nashville after living through so many Chicago winters is that the grey skies never last very long...

Speaking of Chicago. We had a great day yesterday, but there's lots to do today to prepare for SUPER BOWL XLI. I am so excited to see Da Bears back in the Super Bowl after 21 years. I was in college back in '85 and it was such a great time. I am hoping to get out today and get a NFC Champions sweatshirt to wear tomorrow, but maybe that would jinx it! Around here it's probably like not rooting for the Saints two weeks ago, but I am just not a Peyton Manning fan. The Bears are the underdogs according to the news, but I think the Bears like it that way.

Bringin' it Home!

Check out the Bears home page here: http://www.chicagobears.com/

They have a cool countdown to kickoff clock.

SNOW!

Doug and I woke up to this beautiful scene out our breakfast room windows this morning.


Doug decided to go in to work a little late and we all played in the snow. Since we picked Pogo up in Gulf Shores this past summer, we think this was his first snow.

He definitely seemed a little confused at first, but then seemed to enjoy romping around and trying to chomp on the snow.

Rachel & Doug had a big time on the sleds! Fun, fun!

We were really glad we got to spend some time playing with Rachel, because by 2:00 the snow was almost gone!