My Trip To The Great White North: Day 1

My sister Teri called me a few weeks before Christmas and asked me if I would be able to take some time off in January. "Sure - why?" I asked. Teri lives far away - in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory - and she was coming east to Ottawa to attend a conference and wanted to know if I would come up and spend a few days with her. So, I arranged things so my in-laws would take care of Willow for a few days (thank you, thank you, thank you!), and Andrew had things to keep Willow occupied... and I jetted north to Ottawa.



An inukshuk outside the Ottawa International Airport

It was a short flight - only 90 minutes, and going through the baggage claim and Customs was a breeze. I am so used to flying out of Vancouver and Philadelphia, both of which are huge hubs for major airlines and a huge pain in the ass to get around. I landed in Ottawa around 11am, caught the shuttle to our hotel, and checked in. Teri had been there a few days before me and I had a few hours to burn before she got back, so I strapped on my boots, down coat, mittens, and scarf, and headed out into Byward Market to find some lunch. I had forgotten what it was like to have people switch effortlessly between English and French, and made me feel just a tad guilty that I have let so much of my French and Japanese drift away from me. I had some tasty (if a little dry) tandoori chicken and curried chickpeas, checked out some shops, then made my way over to Rideau Centre.

Holy 80's flashback, Batman!

No, I'm not saying that they were stuck in the 80's - it was just amusing to see all these stores that I associate with my Canadian youth that don't exist here in the US (at least not where I live): Le Chateau, Suzy Shier, Benetton, Smart Set - all they needed was a Mariposa and an Esprit store to round out my junior and senior high school fashion dreams! There was even a Club Monaco - and let me tell you - when I was in high school, having a Club Monaco sweatshirt was the height of just about everything! My sister Jaime and I pooled our resources and shared one of these sweatshirts - and let me tell you, we wore the hell out of it!

I walked around some more - it was absolutely sunny and beautiful - and with all that activity you didn't really notice how cold it was (and trust me, it didn't get above freezing any time during my trip).



Me with Quebec in the background across the frozen Ottawa River

After some more shopping (Coffee Crisps, Nanaimo bars and samosas), I headed back to our hotel room to wait for Teri. We walked around some more together, and then decided to go to a local pub, Highlander, for dinner. This place was known for its Ontario beers, so Teri and I both sampled their domestic flight:



There were lots of beers to choose from and I am not much of a beer aficionado, but I told our waitress that I liked India Pale Ales, so she suggested three for me - and for my fourth, I chose it just because it had a kick ass name - Barking Squirrel - and as it turns out, both Teri and I liked that one the best (and I know I have absolutely no chance of getting it here in Delaware!). We even managed to stumble upon a SnB in progress! Teri gave this one woman and her knitting a big smile and the woman came over and said, "Do I know you - you smiled at me!" We had to explain that we, too, were knitters and were surprised to see them meeting at the pub. They invited us to join them, but we were just getting ready to leave then and didn't have our knitting with us.

Full and a little tipsy, we walked back to the hotel and settled in for the night.

Tomorrow - Day 2 with Thai food, creepy exhibits at the National Gallery, and more beer!

Crime of the Century

A crime has been committed against a 7 year old girl...

The Victim:



(Her identity is hidden to protect the innocent!)

The Suspect:



(Don't be misled by that sweet look!)

The Evidence:



We went over to our In-Laws' house this morning to play with Mattie, and Willow was down on the floor rough-housing with her as usual. And as you might remember from previous blog posts, Mattie likes to grab and pull on Willow's braids. Later this afternoon, Willow and I were in Sears and her braid was an utter mess. I told her to stop for a minute so I could re-braid it. I took off the lower elastic, untangled the braid, and about 3 inches of hair came off into my hand! I don't think I could have been more shocked - my mouth is just gaping - opening and closing like a fish. I finger-brushed through her hair and more clumps came out - the dog and bitten chunks out of her hair! Luckily we were in the mall, so I whisked Willow off to the Regis Salon and the very nice stylist there did everything she could to salvage the length of Willow's hair - but even being conservative with it meant about 3 - 3.5 inches were cut off all around.

The Aftermath:



Willow is okay with it right now - the stylist straightened it for her and she thinks that is all fancy. She might think something else altogether when we wash her hair and let it be curly tomorrow because it is going to look an awful lot shorter then.



What? She wags it in my face, it's fair game.

January's Non-Fiction Book: Curse of the Narrows

I'm keeping to my challenge - I just had to finish the book I had been reading first. Even before officially deciding to challenge myself to read a non-fiction book a month, I had already decided on the book I would read first. This is a book that I had given my father-in-law a few years ago, and then I pinched it back when he was done.

My father-in-law loves to read about history, and Curse of the Narrows by Laura M. MacDonald combines some American and Canadian history that is *not* war related (well, at least not war-related between the countries). I'm only about a chapter into the book, and I am finding the author has a very wry sense of humour - at one point she is was discussing the Soldier's Hospital - and then says, "Or, as it was otherwise known, the Venereal Hospital." I snorted with laughter and the other moms watching the 8am swimming lesson started giving me weird looks and inching away...

Yarn Pron Fridays

It's been a while since I have had new lovelies to show off for Yarn Pron Fridays. Don't get me wrong - I have been buying yarn - but for the most part it has been utilitarian stuff. The following is *not* utilitarian - it was my Christmas present to myself.



Aren't they pretty?!?!

On top is Curious Creek Fibers in 'Spice Market' - here's a close up:



I had coveted this colorway for so long - but I just couldn't pay full price for it, no matter how much I wanted it - so when the note came for WoolGirl's New Year's Day Sale, I made a beeline for it, and there were only two skeins left - and then there was one! I have no clue what kind of socks I am going to make with them yet, but I can definitely tell you they will be for me!

On bottom is Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in 'Federal' - here's a close up:



This one was more of a visual stimulation of an idea - 'Federal' is such a perfect name - the colonial blue, the brick red, the brass - I just love how it all comes together. Again, no pattern in mind, but I think I know for whom I will be using this yarn.

Now I just have to finish the three pairs of socks I have on the needles before I can break open one of these new skeins!

The Tree Girls

Willow and her friend, Rowan, had a playdate on Saturday afternoon. This is the first playdate we have ever had at our house (don't ask!) and the two of them had a ball. They were eating cheese puffs and playing loud music (the Glee soundtracks, for those of you interested) - and then the parade started. Willow has a whole host of costumes - some ex-Halloween costumes, some hand-me-downs from her cousins, and some just regular clothing Willow likes to fashion into costumes - and I think they tried on every single one...

Perseverance and Challenges

 

Okay, I forgot to take pictures today - so enjoy this latte art instead. My friends and I meet twice a week at a local coffee house, and the baristas are always trying to out-do each other with their latte art. I had a cool one once that has a leaf like the one above - but it was within a heart... and unfortunately, I couldn't document it because I didn't have my camera with me.

 

Which brings me to the title of this post - Perseverance and Challenges.

 

I hate the word 'resolution' - I think it has lost some of its meaning and has become something unrealistic and something people only pay lip service to. I like challenge and perserverance better - both things I feel I have more control over.

 

In 2010, I persevere

• To continue working on my health, by eating better, exercising frequently, and having a positive self-image.  In 2009 I managed to lose 40 pounds, and I am very happy with that. 

In 2010, I challenge myself to

• Take better pictures.  Most of the time when I take pictures, they are rushed affairs, just me trying to take a snapshot so I can get a blog post up.  Some blogs I read have absolutely beautiful photography and I am horribly jealous.
• Keep on top of my finished objects.  You probably think I don't knit that much (and Andrew and Willow will tell you very differently) by the amount of finished objects I post.  Hell, I finished my cabled vest before I went to Stitches East in October and I still haven't taken pictures of myself in it yet.
• Read at least one non-fiction book a month.  This one will make my father-in-law happy - I know he just shakes his head at all the sci-fi and romance novels I read. *NOT* that there is anything wrong with those kinds of books - I am a grown up and I can read whatever on earth I please - but I am feeling the need to branch out. 
• Finish 12 Christmas presents throughout the course of the year.  This may be by knitting or using my nascent sewing skills - or perhaps something else altogether - but I really like the idea of making at least some of my Christmas presents.

Happy New Year! 

Decade Recap

2000

How many people remember where they were ten years ago today? It really shouldn't be that hard - ten years ago, people were in the throes of Y2K hysteria. Andrew and I were still living in Boulder, CO then - he was in law school and I was working at a private school. I woke up the morning of December 31, 1999 knowing for absolute certainty that nothing was going to happen. Andrew was in the kitchen washing dishes, and when I came in the new year's fireworks were going off in Tokyo on the morning news. Ho-hum. It was a snowy day, and Andrew and I walked to Connor O'Neils, a brew-pub off Pearl Street, had dinner and walked back in absolute silence in the snow. Apparently some people hadn't seen the news that morning! (Although, in full disclosure, we had so much toilet paper that I don't think we had to buy any for another 6 months!) Unfortunately, I didn't have a digital camera in 2000 and my scanner doesn't want to scan, so no pictures.

2000 also started with some sadness as my Grandma had cancer and it was very apparent she was not going to be with us much longer. I flew up to Vancouver in March to see her and she passed away a few weeks later.

2001

Andrew graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in May 2001, and we drove cross-country via I-70 back to his parents' house in Delaware.



We weren't sure where we would end up - the plan was to stay at Andrew's parents' house while Andrew studied for the bar exam, and then in the fall move to wherever Andrew was hired. Well. 9/11 happened. Andrew found out that he passed the bar exam a week later, and absolutely no one was hiring. We ended up staying with Andrew's parents for the next three years, and we will always be grateful to Andrew's parents for sheltering us all that time. I started to work for a pharmaceutical company and Andrew did legal contracting work.

I started taking knitting lessons at my local Michaels in October 2001, wanting to find a way to help calm myself...

Late in 2001 we found out that someone else would be joining us in the new year.

2002

I spent the first half of 2002 pregnant with Willow, and the last six weeks were horrible! We had something like 30 straight days of temperatures over 90'F and it made for an uncomfortable pregnancy. My Mom flew out to be with us when Willow was born, and I was so happy to have her with me.



This little one came to us one stormy night in July and she has kept us on our toes ever since!



(Doesn't she look like a little monkey?)

2003

Auntie Daryth came out to visit us, and Willow was baptized in early 2003 in a gown sewn by my Gram.



She and I took our first (of many) solo trip out to Canada in the fall of 2003. My parents had moved to Vancouver Island, so our trip was a bit longer now. People gave me the weirdest looks for having her in a harness, but I wouldn't have it any other way!



She already had Andrew under her thumb (or her bottom, in this case) - even at this age.



2004

We flew out to Vancouver Island in the summer of 2002 and Willow celebrated an early birthday there:



We were there for Canada Day and my Mom had made Willow this sweet maple leaf dress. She wore it to the festival and a newspaper photographer took her picture and immortalized her on the cover of their newspaper.



Me and Willow - Fall 2004. I loved that haircut!



I was hired full-time at my job and was promoted. In 2004 we finally moved out of Andrew's parents' house and into an apartment of our own.

2005

My sister Teri came to visit!



Look at those cheesy grins - there is no question these two are related!

2006



Unfortunately, my photos from 2005 - 2007 are rather sparse because our computer imploded on us and I lost countless photos. For this reason, everything gets uploaded to Flickr now... although I really need to get in habit of getting prints of the ones I really like.

2007

In 2007 we bought a house! We had been searching for over a year and I am sure we frustrated our realtor with the sheer volume of houses we saw. Once again - computer failure - the only photo I could find from then is a picture of Willow in our backyard!



I went to my first MDSW in 2007 with my friends Kathy, Michelle, and Denise (and I am a little embarrassed as I looked through the old photos that I still haven't used up some of the yarn I bought on that excursion!).  I also met Cristi and Pam on a hill outside of the main barn. That fall we branched out to Stitches East as well in Baltimore and spent the weekend in a hotel room with a fabulous view:



Willow started kindergarten!
2008

In January 2008 we adopted this handsome fellow:



I can't imagine our lives without Lucky now - he has made our house a home.

In March 2008, I went on a business trip to Las Vegas - and what did I do? Yes, take pictures of the carpets in the hotel. What?!?! They were pretty.



In May 2008, my friends and I went to MDSW again - this has become a yearly trip for us now - I am always amazed at the sheer variety of fiber stuff - and plus, I met Bezzie on this trip!

In July 2008 we flew out to Vancouver Island again so Willow could meet her new cousins. Willow is in an interesting position - on Andrew's side she is the absolute baby of all the cousins, but on my side she is the eldest by a few years.



My parents came out to spend Christmas with us in 2008, and it was wonderful to have them here - especially since Mom taught me how to make perogies and apple pies!

2009

In April 2009, we spent a searing hot weekend (really - who expects 90'F+ in April?) at Rehoboth Beach, courtesy of Andrew's parents. Willow loved being on the beach when it was sunny, and I can't wait to do this again.



Willow went to her first baseball game, and I think I have made a convert of her - although I don't think she is convinced yet that playing ball is just as fun as watching it.



I made jam! (Yes, freezer jam - but I made jam!)



Willow lost her first tooth:



My parents came out to visit us again, this time for Canadian Thanksgiving.  My Mom taught me how to cook a turkey... and I forgot to take a picture!  I was so intent on getting everything on the table...

I celebrated my 37th birthday:



And this cutie pie made her way into our hearts after we lost Caddie in the fall:



Looking through all these photos, I simply cannot believe that ten years have gone by.  How on earth did I get from 27 to 37?  And has anyone come to a decision yet what the this decade was to be called - we don't have much time left!

More Christmas Finished Objects: Amy's Socks

Socks for my manager, Amy:



Yarn: Storm Moon Knits Twilight Sock in 'Rockabilly Blues'
Needles: 2 - 16" Knitpicks Size 2 circulars
Pattern: Ann Budd's Basic Sock
Size: Ladies' Medium

Aren't they eye-catching? I bought this yarn at Stitches East a few years ago, and what caught my eye from the beginning was the contrast with the pale turquoise and the black/purple/dark green. Unfortunately, it looks like the dyer has taken an indefinite leave from her shop - it's really too bad because I love how vibrant her colourways are. I had to be sneaky about getting Amy's shoe size out of her - it's not something that comes up in every day conversation! We were talking once and she said her daughter was borrowing her socks (I think her daughter is 11), and I expressed surprise that they would wear the same size... and bingo! Had to store that in my head for a while. I'm really pleased at how they turned out, and Amy loves them.

Christmas Finished Objects

I made a few things for Christmas for my knitting friends this year, and I had to wait until after Christmas to show them. I have been meeting with these ladies for close to four years, and they are some of my dearest friends. I wanted to make them something, but knitting seemed out of the question since we are all knitters.

Hmm. Maybe I should preface these photos with the comment that my Mom, mother-in-law, aunt, and grandmother are prolific sewers - and most of them have fabric stashes that put my sizable wool stash to shame. And my longest-standingf friend Tara loves to tell people tell people that she took a steep dislike to me when we first met in Grade 8 Home Ec because I took the easy way out with a sewing assignment.

I have probably touched a sewing machine less times that you can count on one hand since that Home Ec class finished - but as I mentioned above, I wanted to make something for my friends. I went to Etsy to get some ideas of handmade things for knitters, and decided I would try to make them project bags. I found a pattern at my local quilting store literally titled "The Easiest Accessory Bag Ever" - so easy in fact, you didn't have to trace out the pattern - only cut out rectangles from fat quarters.

My MIL, Debby, gave me a quick re-tutorial of her sewing machine, and after the two of us puzzled through the first one, she left me on my own to finish the last three.

Michelle's Project Bag - chosen because I always associate her with having a tea or coffee with her.



Denise's Project Bag - chosen because she is such a dog lover, and between her and her three daughters, I think they have 9 dogs.



Patti's Project Bag - chosen because she is such a dramatic, forthright person, and I thought she would love the contrast between the black and pink.



Kathy's Project Bag - this one was a little tougher. Kathy is a bit like me, we have very similar clothing styles with Lands End Mocs and fleece - very casual - but it is Kathy alone among us who has picked the most feminine and flirty yarn to work with, so I picked this swirly purple fabric.



All finished, the bags are about 7X9", and have drawstring enclosures and handles - perfect for socks or other small projects. I was pleased as punch at how they turned out, and have already bought the fabric to make one of my own.

Snowbound and Crafty

The snow-pocolapse has come and gone, and we have 18 inches of snow to show for it. We were pretty much snowbound the last two days, so I was able to catch up on most of the shows I had recorded on my dvr and finish three Christmas presents. I had finished a cowl/hat/earwarmer for someone else, and while I was modeling it for Andrew, Willow asked, "Did you make that for me?" Magic words... So, after Willow went to bed and while Andrew and I were watching Dr. Who: Waters of Mars, I whipped up this for Willow:



It's easy-peasy - I cast on, knit the whole thing, and cast off by the time Dr. Who was over - less than 90 minutes altogether.

Yarn: Wool Ease Chunky in Grass - less than 1 ball
Needles: 16" circulars in size 10.5
Pattern: Cast on 60 stitches, join, be careful not to twist. K3, P1 all around. Continue in pattern until you have a 8" tube. Bind off in pattern. Done!

I've made myself one, too - and I like the fact that it can accomodate a ponytail and covers your ears completely.

I don't want you to get Mattie-deprived, so here is a new picture of the puppy:



Isn't she beautiful!? I could just snuggle with her all day.

Cuteness Overload

How cute is this?



Willow would sleep in the cage with newly named Mattie (for Mathilda) if we let her!



Who could resist this face?!



Willow and the newly named Mattie (for Mathilda) have become close friends. Mattie wants attention from all the adults, but whenever Willow walks into the room, it is as if Mattie thinks her long lost littermate has show up.



She has a special fondness for pulling on Willow's hair. Willow keeps having to pull it into a ponytail or bun and out of Mattie's way.



She also seems to think that Willow is her chew-toy. Willow doesn't seem to realize that means Mattie thinks that Willow is another pup to play with - Willow needs to discourage her from the nipping, but I think it is interesting that Willow is the only one who gets nipped.



Mattie wants to play with Willow all the time - and when Willow wanted a break, she got up on the sofa, and Mattie was bereft she couldn't reach Willow. She tried jumping up on the sofa a few times but can't do it yet - so she plopped her bum down and started to whimper.



To answer some people's questions - Mattie's tail is naturally docked - her litter had both long tails and no tails. Her mother was 35lbs and her father 40lbs and she was the second smallest in her litter, so I don't see her becoming a huge dog. She weighs about 7lbs right now. She has one blue eye and one green eye.