This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

 

World's Sweetest Kid

Then This Happened....

On Tuesday I tore my meniscus. Doing nothing. Literally.

I was sitting in a chair at work, moved, herd a huge pop and felt a searing pain. Then it happened 3 more times throughout the day (whenever I bent my knees). So, Wednesday I walked into the doctor, and came out with a knee brace and crutches. With luck, it will heal on its own in a couple of weeks. But, I will say it has put a damper on things.

Chasing an almost-3-year old while on crutches could be an Olympic sport.

Plus preparing for my mom's arrival tomorrow and a very special gal's birthday on Saturday, and let's just say my work has been cut out for me.

And, I have so much to blog about lately, but as the littlest things are taking much longer than usual, I don't think I have the time right now. But, soon enough.

Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this week's yarn along.

Well, over the past week I finished my sockhead hat! And I have already worn it quite a bit. I have yet to get a picture of me in it, so maybe by next week. I also whipped up another just plain ol' hat for me. Not sure when I decided to knit so many things for myself, but I must say it's pretty fun!

On the needles now- I just casted on this sweater (also for me!).  I am expecting it to take me a while, because I have knitting ADD and will have to start 4 or 5 more things before I make it through the sweater. Especially since Phoebe picked out this hilarious 70's colorway yarn the other day and asked me to knit her a vest with it. How could I say no? Lime green, orange and brown are sure to make a winning vest, right?


I have managed to squeeze in a few chapters of Game of Thrones, but my main reading has been the stack of environmental non-fictions that I got from the library. I am trying to choose a book for my class to read next term. I am starting with Slow Death by Rubber Duck and it is pretty intriguing so far. I think I have my work cut out for me for a while though....

And, of course, Matty cat had to make an appearance. I don't know what is with him with the yarn along photos.

What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Signs of Spring

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this week's yarn along.

I have been feeling a but under the weather the past few days and have been exhausted. Which means that I have been choosing sleep over both reading and knitting. But, the good news is that I am almost finished with my sockhead hat, and only have about 20 rows of the decrease left to go!

Over the weekend I spent a long time browsing ravelry and deciding on what to knit next. I will leave the surprise until next week, when I am 100% sure, but I think it is going to be another something for me!

Still reading A Game of Thrones and enjoying it so far although I am only about 100 pages in.

What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Eggcelent

I haven't blogged much about the ducks lately as there wasn't much of interest to write about. We are down to just 2, both females......our original mama duck and one of her daughters. Anyways, it has been a long time (almost a year!) since we have had duck eggs. Mama duck started sitting on her eggs late last spring and hasn't laid any eggs since.... until two weeks ago. I was happily surprised to find out that not only had mama started laying again, but her daughter is laying as well. Thanks gals!

Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this week's yarn along.

I am knitting up one of these cowls as a gift. I made several for family and friends for the holidays and I had a request to make another. I had better hurry before spring arrives! I am still working on my sockhead hat, and manage to sneak in a few rows every couple of days.

All of this snow was good for my reading. I finally finished Sometimes a Great Notion. I was reading it, on and off, for about 5 months.  Seriously. I feel like I deserve a medal for finishing! I am currently finishing up a couple of non-fictions, Hands-Free Mama and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. But what I am really excited about is that I just started A Game of Thrones.  I have only watched a few episodes of the tv series, so what happens will be a surprise. So far so good! Have you read the Game of Thrones series? What did you think?

Finn and I have been working our way through the Roald Dahl box set. We finished up Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator last night and just started Danny, Champion of the World.

And, my cat Matty really wanted to be in the yarn along photos. Again. I had to oblige.

What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Lately

We have been very busy making a collection of aliens that have invaded our house. (I think we may be going stir crazy from all of the snow)

What have you been doing lately?

Snow-filled Gratitudes

Have I mentioned that we got a winter storm here? With real snow? This is not typical Oregon weather, so it has been a fun treat for us all.
During this storm, I have been feeling grateful for so many things.....

• that we live in walking distance to anything we really need (which means that even though we really weren't prepared for this storm, we have been well fed and entertained.
•  that we have a house that is warm and cozy- there are lots of homeless folks in Portland and I keep thinking about them and hoping they are warm.
• for time at home, to be lazy, with no expectations of having to go anywhere or do anything
• for movies, books, craft supplies, the internet, and everything that keeps is from going crazy cooped up in this house for days!

What are you grateful for today?

Joining in with the other Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots for a Gratitude Sunday post.

Still Snowing

In Portland, it is a treat to get even a dusting of snow. But, this storm has been a big one, and it has been snowing on and off since Thursday! Last night I braved the snow with some other mamas and headed out for a night on the town. It was a fabulous adventure, except that the travel aspect was a bit of a challenge. Let's just say we luckily caught the last bus home. It would have been a long, cold walk otherwise!
Portland does not have many snow plows and our car does not have 4-wheel drive, so we have felt really lucky that we live an easy walk from the grocery store, restaurants, and any other essentials that we need. Today the hubby and the kids and I walked out to breakfast and our normally bustling neighborhood was like a ghost town. Phoebe's gymnastics class was cancelled, as was the play downtown that Finn and I were supposed to go to this afternoon. With nothing to do all day, we decided to walk down the street to see the new Lego movie. And how else to get there but in a sled, of course! Can't say that I have done that before.
Anyways, the snow has been fun. It has been hard work bringing out hot water for the ducks every couple of hours to keep the water in liquid form (but I think they have enjoyed getting into the hot water and soaking... seriously, they have been duck hot-tubbing) and lots of snow requires a lot of clothes for little kids, but it has been so fun. I am really looking forward to a quiet night at home, with a good book, a movie, some knitting and a glass of wine.

Snow Day!

What We're Reading

 

What are you reading?

Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this week's yarn along.

Still plugging away at my sockhead hat. Although I feel like noticeable progress takes a long time, I am starting to enjoy the process and am really enjoying this knit. It's a great mindless project while I watch netflix and is really convenient to travel with. And I think I have actually added a few inches since last week's yarn along!

I also started to knit up a quick rainbow birthday crown for a little girl who is nearing 3! Phoebe has requested a rainbow themed party and a rainbow crown is a must.

Reading this week has been a bit scattered. I am trying to plow through 3 different environmental science texts, as I think the college is going to change the one we use come summertime. I need to formulate an opinion on which one I prefer sometime in the next month or so. Not exactly the most exciting of reading, but it does need to get done. I have also been trying to finish up Dirt and Sometimes A Great Notion, both of which I have been reading, slowly, for pretty much forever. I am also about halfway through Hands-Free Mama and I just started A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Maybe I would finish books more quickly if I stopped starting new books along the way. Unfortunately, that is just how my brain works.

Oh yeah! I finally got some pictures of my new leg warmers and my northern loop cowl, both of which I made for myself. They are coming in handy during this chilly weather we are having! Photo credits to Finn for the cowl photo (my budding photographer!)

What are you reading? What are you knitting?

 

Right Now....

* The kids and I are battling a cold, which has left us all a little bit tired and cranky.

* I am amazed thinking about how much my kids have grown up just in the past few months. Yesterday, the husband and I realized that Phoebe could actually run now. You know, run like a kid, and not like a toddler. When dd that happen? I must have blinked. And Finn- he has changed so much as well. Finn is reading books now like a champ. He reads books to Phoebe, and it is just so sweet. And speaking of sweet-  yesterday, Phoebe was crying about leaving some rocks behind on the hike that we took. She was really upset. Inconsolable. And then Finn turns to her and says, "Phoebe, the rocks aren't really important. What is really important is your family". That's right my little man. Right then, I felt like I had done my job as a mama.

* I am feeling a pull between the millions of things I could (or should) be doing, and the urge to just relax and be and soak it all in. Hopefully, if things go well, my day will be a mix of both.

* I am noticing signs of spring everywhere: a yard full of crocuses on my walk to pick Finn up from school, teeny tiny buds bursting forth from branches, the sounds of birds chattering away. I know it is only early February, but I like to be reminded that pretty soon my yard will be encapsulated with new growth and colorful blooms.

What are you doing right now?