The "What Is/Are..." Stage and Curatio

It's official. Ramona has entered the "what is/are..." stage of childhood. After a recent visit with my niece who is in the "Why" stage...I wondered when Ramona would start. Sure enough...only a week later!

"Mommy, what is that word?"

"Mommy, what are we buying at the store?"

"Mommy, what are you and daddy spelling?" - which was my favorite because that's what parents of four year olds do - we start to spell EVERYTHING! Inquiring minds want to know!

In fact, hubby and I have even started to go so far as spelling series of words and including the word "space" in between them...ha! It's classic parenthood - and we did it with The Punk...even when he was six or seven...so spelling is the name of the game for a few years.

In the knitting realm, I finished Kirsten Kapur's new shawl design, Curatio, over the weekend. It's still in test stages...but look for it to be published in the next couple of weeks. Isn't it lovely?!



On the heels of finishing, the ribbing I took for my sizable stash last week, and wanting a day or so break from lace knitting/reading, I decided to whip up a quick dress for Ramona. The pattern is from Berroco's new booklet, "Berroco Remix". I'm using some *old* Caron yarn that I've had for years. It's a nice turquoise blue and the color always looks nice on her. The pattern, Simo, calls for an attached scarf...which, if I add, I was thinking of making in a tangerine color - and would make the pockets out of the same - a little contrast and pop. Whadda ya think?

Once I finish the dress, which probably won't take more than another day or two, I'll get back to knitting Alyssa's wedding shawl - hooray!

Happy Knitting and Happy Monday!

WOW Thanksgiving - Thank you for being past tense!

Well, Thanksgiving weekend was crazy and calm and healthy and achy - what a rollercoaster!

We ended up not having the holiday at our home at all - hey, who am I to complain about not cleaning all those dishes? My in-laws cooked a standing rib roast and a small turkey breast (for me since I can't eat red meat) and some side dishes and we brought additional side dishes to their home. Afterward we went to my folks place for dessert. My sister and her family were up from VA and we were able to convince my grandmother to come out for a little while. It was nice to see everyone all in one day!

We kind of took it easy on Friday...and only ventured out for bagels in the morning. Who needs traffic and shopping crowds anyway? Not me!

On Saturday one of my cousin's hosted my dad's side of the family at her home: 4 families of 4 and our respective parents - 20 people in all! The kids all had someone "their own age" so Matthew didn't feel like he had to babysit the little kids for a change. I brought along my tripod and remote...this turned out pretty good considering how many smiles we had to get at one time!



On Sunday I wasn't feeling so great and focused on finishing a couple of projects I've had in the pipeline (sorry, that's the Investment Banking side of me coming through!) for a while.

I finished up the Beagle scarf I was making for my friend and co-worker as a surprise holiday present. As the story goes, he often spies Alyssa and I looking at our current WIPs and usually asks "Hey, is that the scarf you're making me?" or says "Gee, that color doesn't really match my coat." Won't he be surprised when I hold up the scarf, he makes a comment, and I actually give it to him! Priceless.



Seeing as I had finished one thing...why not make it two in one day? I dragged out the sewing machine and sat down at the dining room table to pin (and re-pin and re-pin and re-pin) the zipper into Ken's unfinished sweater. Darn him making me learn how to sew a zipper into a hand knit! Anyway, after some fiddling with the machine and a couple passes through it...ta-da...it's done!







I also worked on a SUPER DUPER REALLY SECRET project - but, obviously, I can't blog more than than right now. Look for photos on/about December 19th!

Lastly, Ann, the creative genius behind Weaver Knits will be publishing a new (and FREE) Recession Pattern in the coming weeks. I am honored to be test knitting for her - and happy that I can knit using yarn from my stash - hooray for bustin' it up! I'll post some preview pics as soon as I can!

Happy Knitting all!