Funny Magic

Some Yarny FO's

I'm still working on my Knitting Olympics sweater, so in the meantime I'd thought I'd share some finished objects that got finished before I became immersed in the Rooibos:

I crocheted a pillow cover with a granny square in the middle - used some random cotton yarns from the stash (still on my yarn diet - so far, so good). Here's one side:

And here's the other:

Knit a hat for myself with more yarn from the stash (I'm not kidding when I say that it's extensive and deep and should totally keep me busy all year long).

Oh, and right before Christmas I managed to churn-out a quick hat for Charlie - blue for my blue-eyed boy, of course:

Anyhoo, now I must get back to my sweater...sadly, I got sidetracked for a day by the grannies,

and now I'm fretting a bit. Dang those granny squares! (But oh, how I love them!)

On Sleeping and Knitting

Recently, hubby started a new job that requires him to "hit the hay" fairly early each night, and to be up and out of the house by 5am each morning, so I've been busy re-thinking our bedtime around these parts, especially where my littlest monster is concerned. 

I came up with this chart in order to cut down on the amount of dawdling and procrastinating that goes on between the time we head upstairs to get ready for bed and when her head hits the pillow. I mean, I'm not one for real strict routines, but when the process of getting ready for bed starts to drag on for more than an hour Mama starts to get really irritated, as does my little one, and that's no good.

So basically, I just listed out what she needs to accomplish (put on jammies, brush teeth, etc.), what we'll do together (read a couple books, snuggle and talk for 5 minutes) before the lights go out. If she can get to bed each night without getting out of bed and/or calling for mom or dad or her brother every 5 minutes after lights out, she'll earn a sticker on the chart the following morning. The reward is 5 stickers = a shopping trip to Savers thrift store. What could be better than that?? And last night she actually went to sleep in her own bed without a lot of argument and stayed there throughout the night...I forsee a shopping trip this weekend!

In knitting news, my Knitting Olympics sweater is coming right along:

I'm nearly finished with the back and will hopefully start one of the front panels today. I've been getting a lot of knitting done while watching the Olympics in the evening, especially after everyone else is in bed....having that bit of quiet time to myself is really, really nice. 

And now I'm off to get ready for the day - Happy Thursday!

I Took a Pledge...

...of the knitterly sort last night, specifically the Knitting Olympics Athletes' Pledge:

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, do hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win, to do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this: that I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....
but on my trying.

What this all means for your's truly, is that I have cast-on for this, and that I will finish it in 17 days, which, for me, is H-U-G-E. Can I do it? Why, yes...I do believe I'm up for a challenge right now, so yes, I think I can!

Let the games begin!

Good Cookie

Hello there! Popping-in with the recipe for those cookies.

Cranberry Chip Cookies

(from Best of Country Cookies cookbook)

You'll need:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup vanilla chips

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chopped pecans
 

You'll do:

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chips, cranberries, and pecans. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 9 dozen.

With the batch I made I employed a couple mods: 2 cups chocolate chips because I didn't have any vanilla chips on hand, and I used a cup of chopped walnuts instead of the pecans. Still super yum!

 

Enjoy!

Juliet's Owls

At the beginning of January I cast on for an Owlet sweater for Juliet; by month's end it was finished.

I sorted through my button stash,

and finished sewing them on last night.

Juliet loves her sweater, and I am so, so happy that it fits just perfectly. (Details on my Ravelry page.) It is a fantastic pattern, with sizing up to 12 years; I definitely see more Owlets in Juliet's future.

I'll be back with a cookie recipe and some finished crocheting, too. Until then, have a wonderful weekend!