Week-ending

Just the two of us escaped to the base of Sugarloaf for

Knitting

Talking

Eating

Snuggling

Reading

Relaxing

Laughing

and

Togethering

No Distractions

No Duties

No To Do Lists

No Diapers

No Chores

No Working

Year of Projects: Encouraged

I looked over my pinterest board: Photo Finish 2013 and felt an immense sense of accomplishment. I think keeping a log of what I've knit will keep my motivated to keep moving forward.

I finished a hat for myself a couple of weeks ago and I've been wearing it all the time. It is warm and roomy enough for my hair when I have it up in a sloppy bun or ponytail.

I am working on a pair of socks for Stomper that I optimistically will finish him for Valentines Day. They are going to be huge on purpose. They are intended to wear as an extra layer in his boots and will fit him until he is four (I hope).

The kitty is in the time-out chair while I consider what to do. I am confident that I don't have enough yarn to make it the size I want to. Perhaps I will pick it up soon at a smaller scale.

I cast on for a project for myself, the second this year! My husband bought everything on my wish list at knitpicks and on it was one skein of Chroma. I have fretted since Christmas what to knit. I finally settled on Mira's Cowl and I cast on this Wednesday.

Valentines Count Down: Days 1-6

Mimi made Stomper a Valentines count down. I think she found all the ideas on pinterest. ..what did we ever do before pinterest?

Every day he opens a new small gift.

Day One: You are a Kool Kid. 

He opened three Kool-aid pouches and a juice box holder.

Day Two: We are nuts about you

He opened a small package of cashews

Day Three: You light up our life

He opened a small flashlight 

Day Four: We are lucky to have you as a Grandson

He opened a single serving bowl of Lucky Charms 

Day Five: You are a little nutty

He opened a peanutbutter cookies

Day Six: We are glad you Became part of our family

He opened a bee shaped plate, "poon", and "cork"

Fashion Forward

Here is Stomper wearing the hottest and most sought after hand knitted items (and some from the store) that you too will want to wear. Remember, layering is must!

First off .. Ode to Summer: Stomper is wearing a summer hat (be careful the elastic smarts!) purchased in NY two summers ago, don't worry if it's too small. He has paired it with a store bought scarf and a hand knit cowl. This look is perfect for grocery shopping or a cozy day at the beach.

Second ... No Thumbs Required: These are a pair of Fingerless Gloves, but he is wearing them as arm warmers - one piece of accessory - two uses! This look is great if you are knitting in the cold, playing with cars, or reading a good book.

Lastly ... All Together Now:  On his head is a hat too large for humans, The Knitter made when it when she first started knitting. The yarn is some fancy stuff that she doesn't remember, it has a lot of added bits and bobs on it. The scarf is one of a few that she has made and so it is very special  It uses a skein of fun fur someone gave her years ago. He has also layered on the cowl and fingerless gloves, with a pair of store bought stretchy gloves for those really chilly days. This look just says: relax in comfort.

Pea Saga : We visit the doctor

This is a continuation of a story from yesterday. If you haven't read Part 1 of the Pea Saga, take a moment and read it before continuing...

When he wakes, I check for the offending vegetable and sure enough there it is mocking us. I wonder for the hundreth time, "Such a tiny thing, what is the harm?" We go to our appointment. Our FNP greets us with a smile and lays out her tricks of the trade: nose flush, nose tweezers, and a nose syringe. First she tries the tweezers, then flush which only pushed out snot, and finally the syringe only made him cry.

She tells us our next stop is an ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) doctor just down the road.

After far too much paperwork for a tiny pea we see the doctor.

Apparently he doesn't work pediatrics, ever. He comes in with a scary smile and a flipped up mirror headband. Stomper almost lost it right there. He is terrified of people in masks, even people he knows. I managed to advert disaster with my Mommy ninja skills and a ready and waiting "Froggie".

I sit in the captains chair and hold Stomper in my lap. The doctor took a look and said to me, "We have two choices. I can take it out now, but you'll have to hold him. Or we can wait until Monday and put him under anesthesia."

"Let's do it now."

"You'll have to hold him still, do you think you can do that?"

I am a Mommy ninja, "I can hold him."

The doctor rifles through his drawers digging through devices from the middle-ages used to torture inmates and traitors. Calmly I tell Stomper, who is watching rigidly, "Those are the doctors tools. Like Papa's tools."

The doctor lays out three things; two are slender with little graspers on the end and one looks like a pair of scissors. I feel a little frightened that those are going up my baby's nose. I can do this. I am an octopus. I am an octopus ninja with the strength of two elephants. I can keep my baby safe.

I hold my son whispering encouragement and brave words in his ears. He screams. I stay calm. It is now the doctors turn to be a ninja. The third try and Stompers nose is pea free! The tears stop almost immediately and the doctor allows Stomper to play with the chair: up, down, up, down.

That was last Thursday.

On Sunday we ended our week-end with a call to poison control after Stomper found Grandma's purse and a small bottle of eye glass cleaner.

Guess he's just one of those kids ...

Rainbows

Finished the turtles yesterday. I still love this pattern even after knitting it about a dozen times. Best yet, it's free!

Pattern: Tuck

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK Weight

Pea Saga: Bright Orbs

I am working at the kitchen island keeping an eye on Stomper and the two daycare kiddos eating a lunch of chicken, rice, fresh pineapple, and peas when I look over at Stomper and sense something is not right. I focus on my little guy and see these bright green orbs sticking out of his nose. Vaguely I recall my sister telling him to get his finger out of his nose and I assume that what I am seeing is the result of some vigorous exploration.

I walk over to him and upon reaching him I further notice that each orb is perfectly round and too bright to be made by his body. As I watch he picks up a pea and shoves it into his nose. I react-poorly-and knock the pea out his nose while simultaneously reprimanding him. What is going on in the back of my Mommy brain is a hope that the two I see and the one in his hand are the only ones up his nose.

I grasp the bridge of his nose and squeeze out the peas. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, both nostrils empty like a Gatling gun. I tip his head back to take a look and there are two still stuck up his nose and as I am pondering how I am going to teach him to blow them out, he sneezes. I look on the floor and summarize that there are approximately ten peas on the floor. I whisper a prayer that there aren't any more up there as I snatch up the flashlight.

I chant in my head as I approach him, "they are all gone, they are all gone." I tip him back and shine the light in. At first there is hope and then I spy an unnatural booger color up there. One pea is left. I look at him and shake my head, "There is still one up there. But how much harm can a pea do?"

We opted for a Family Nurse Practioner (FNP) for our primary care because she is level headed and not drug happy. I have hope that she has a magic trick to spirit the pea out of his nose. I call the office. They tell me to go to the ER, exasperated I half shout, "For a pea?" The nurse replies, "Let me see if we can get you in today." She sets us up with an afternoon appointment and I lay Stomper down for a nap. I say to him as I lay him down, "Maybe it will work itself out while you sleep."


Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 ... We visit the doctor

If You Don't Like the Weather

There is a saying, and I'm sure it's true for many parts of the world, it goes something like this: "If you don't like the weather, just wait awhile." The sentiment is that the weather is unpredictable and constantly changing.

Maine sure did prove that on Thursday.

I went out in the morning to see if the duck's gate was unfrozen enough so I could open it. It was sunny and the pond had a foot of water over it and I thought they might enjoy a splashing around in it. Sadly the gate was frozen pretty much solid in ice and snow and I was unable to pry it loose. 

While I was out there I snapped a few photos.

"The Big Dog" :: Rusty

"Old Grandma Kitty" :: Pheonix

Beautiful, sunny, warm, and smelling of spring.. wait isn't it the last day of January?

Two hours later, the weather remembered that it wasn't spring....

Two hours! This is the same tree in the photo with the blue sky.

Thankfully little boys, bunnies, and kitties don't mind the change in weather. Just as long as Mommy or God has dressed them up warm.

It didn't show up in the photos, but when these last photos were taken it was snowing.

Kisses for Sarah Bunny

"Welcome to Maine, if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute..."

Little Hoppers

Unfortunately there isn't much going on around here, all accept a few rabbits I hesitate to show you (because of their adorableness). They are doing great. They are eating grain, hay, and drinking water on their own. In a few weeks we will separate them from their mother, to give them growing room, but I don't think she'll mind. Those little buggers tumble all over her all day long. 

We are down to five rabbits. It's our own fault. We didn't check the cage close enough for spots a small rabbit could fall through and last week we lost two. The hole has been repaired and the little hoppers are free to roam their cage.

(Photos Courtesy of Mom Berg)

Psst, I have a secret

squeeeeze